Changing times: OSU, PSU spring games are today

By ROB OLLER

The Columbus Dispatch

COLUMBUS

Most dress rehearsals are closed to the public, which is why the open Ohio State spring game should attract a crowd of about 60,000 into the Horseshoe today.

The game/scrimmage/glorified practice gives Buckeye Nation a sneak peek at the offensive monster that coach Urban Meyer has been building from a mix of superior pieces and spare parts in his laboratory.

On display will be more of a vanilla version of the passing game. The sprinkles arrive on Sept. 1 in the opener at home against Miami (Ohio).

Still, curiosity seekers will get a first view of Tresselball 2.0, which retains the previous boss’ heavy emphasis on defense, kicking game and forcing/avoiding turnovers, while moving the offense from the Ice Age into the Spread Era. No longer will the delayed quarterback draw qualify as outside-the-box gadgetry.

Central to the new-look offense is Braxton Miller, the sophomore quarterback who last year showed an ability to avoid taking direct hits, except when the pocket collapsed, which was often. When on the move, Miller mostly was magnificent. His arm strength was well above average, his accuracy less so (54.1 completion percentage). As one would expect, his mental processing improved along the way but remains a work in progress.

Which brings us to today. Conventional wisdom contends that the biggest jump a player makes occurs between his freshman and sophomore seasons. This line of thought has Ohio State fans frothing, since Miller is making that very step this season. It goes like this: If Miller was “getting there” after stepping in for Joe Bauserman in 2011, just imagine how swanky he will look after spending a year reading defenses.

In Meyer’s thinking, Miller should continue to make strides without making a giant leap. Meyer also is not worried that his starting quarterback will take a step back, because Ohio State’s new offense is more complicated than what Miller learned last season.

PENN STATE

STATE COLLEGE, Pa.

In nearly four months in Happy Valley, Penn State coach Bill O’Brien has delivered speeches, overseen pre-dawn conditioning drills and started installing a new high-octane offense.

But the most memorable day yet of his new job arrives today.

The Blue-White game ending Penn State spring practice will mark the first time O’Brien will jog on to the Beaver Stadium field as coach — another milestone in the school’s historic transition from the 46-year tenure of the late Joe Paterno.

“People will look at it as more important than the average Blue-White game,” left tackle Adam Gress said this week. “All the fans want to see what coach O’Brien has to offer.”

In many respects though, it’s much more than about football.

The glorified scrimmage, which typically draws tens of thousands of blue-and-white backers, is also the first event at the stadium since Paterno died in January at age 85, less than three months after being diagnosed with lung cancer. His funeral procession wound through campus and right by the stadium tunnel.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.