Ohio State player notes for Mar 3rd, 2019


Justin Fields – Noteworthy
Ohio State announced it will start its spring practice schedule Wednesday at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. These practices will be the first opportunity first-year head coach Ryan Day will have with his new coaching staff, along with high-profile additions such as transfer quarterback Justin Fields, freshman receiver Garrett Wilson and defensive end Zach Harrison. The Buckeyes will have 13 practices before the Spring Game on on Saturday, April 13. – Cleveland.com

*Dwayne Haskins Jr. – Noteworthy
The Giants’ next quarterback undoubtedly will be younger than Eli Manning. But could he be slower than Manning, too? If it’s Dwayne Haskins from Ohio State, then yes. Haskins ran a lumbering 5.04 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday. He was the only one of the quarterbacks projected to go in the first few rounds to fail to crack the five-second mark and also did not better the far-from-blistering 4.9 seconds that Manning ran at his workout in 2004. According to the NFL Network, Haskins dealt with some leg cramps before his runs, and he will try to improve his time at his Pro Day later this month. But even that cringeworthy number shouldn’t do much to slow down the momentum some teams – including perhaps the Giants – have about Haskins and his potential in the NFL.

“There’s elements of mobility where a guy can just take off and run and gain 60,” Pat Shurmur said regarding quarterbacks. “Then there’s the mobility in the pocket to clear your feet, clear your vision and make a throw.” General manager Dave Gettleman said that was something he learned from Mike Shanahan in Denver in the 1990s, and it holds true today. “In this day and age with all the athletes on the field, at some point in time, a quarterback’s got to make plays with his feet,” Gettleman said. “And making plays with your feet doesn’t mean you [run] 4.4. It’s the subtle pocket stuff guys do.” Besides, everyone already knew Haskins is a bit cement-footed. Even he acknowledged it a bit when he spoke with the media on Friday. But when he participated in other on-field drills on Saturday, he really showed off what has made him a likely first-round pick. – Newsday