Joe Bauserman and Braxton Miller should both play when the Buckeyes open the season.
Notes from today's jersey scrimmage in Ohio Stadium, which wasn't scored live like it used to be. Luke Fickell said he wanted the players focused today on playing, not on whether the offense or defense was winning:
* Senior Joe Bauserman took the majority of the quarterback snaps with the first team, and definitely looks like the guy who will be the starting quarterback against Akron on Sept. 3. Bauserman dropped in a perfect deep pass to Devin Smith for a 55-yard gain on what was the best throw of the day. He then finished the drive with a 10-yard TD pass to tight end Jeff Heuerman. But Bauserman also threw an interception from the 20-yardline when he was off target on a pass to Philly Brown and was picked by Travis Howard in the endzone.
Bauserman also overthrew some fades in the endzone. It was an OK day for the quarterbacks, but the senior looked the most ready to lead an offense.
* Braxton Miller worked mostly with the first team and also took some snaps with the second team. He had some great shifty runs when he scrambled, making defenders miss and showing good ability. He's a very different runner than Terrelle Pryor, with less open field speed and without that stiffarm, but he's more comfortable in traffic and can still get to the corner.
That said, he looked a little hesitant to let the ball go on some plays and absorbed some sacks. Miller said early in camp he was still learning all the routes on the passing plays, and some of that inexperience shows. But it was also difficult for Miller, or any of the quarterback working with the second team, because the No. 2 defensive line is significantly ahead of the No. 2 offensive line.
* The running back position remains somewhat unclear. Jaamal Berry continued to sit today with an injury, after he missed practice this week with what appeared to be a hamstring issue.
Dan Herron, suspended for the first five weeks, worked mostly with the second team and ran hard, as usual.
Jordan Hall looks like the No. 1 tailback, but he didn't get a lot of chances to run it today. Carlos Hyde continues to impress every time he gets the ball, while redshirt freshman Rod Smith seems to be down the depth chart.
The guess right now is that, with Herron out, Jordan Hall will be the starting tailback but will also get the ball in the passing game. I'd put Berry and Hyde, with two different styles, at the same level, just behind Hall, and both should carry the ball. Smith should start the season as the No. 4 option at tailback, while Herron waits to return.
* On defense, Bradley Roby ran with the first-team all day and should start at cornerback opposite Travis Howard. The linebackers had a good day, with Andrew Sweat making a lot of plays at weakside linebacker. He should be the leading tackler this season.
* Freshmen receivers Evan Spencer and Devin Smith both made plays today. But the best play by a receiver was Chris Fields making an adjustment on a Braxton Miller throw that was behind him, grabbing it and turning it into a 58-yard touchdown.
Corey "Philly" Brown and Verlon Reed should be the top two receivers, with Fields the No. 3 receiver who operates out of the slot when the Buckeyes go three wide. It looks like Smith and Spencer are right there for the No. 4 receiver spot.
Source: http://www.cleveland.com/buckeyeblog/index.ssf/2011/08/ohio_states_quarterback_battle.html
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