Buckeyes' mid-term grades not sparkling

COLUMBUS - With six football games in the scorebook, it's time to give some mid-term grades to Ohio State's football team.

The No. 12 Buckeyes (5-1, 2-0 Big Ten) started the year with huge aspirations. But like a student who messes up the SAT big time, they have been hustling to make up for a devastating 35-3 loss at Southern California in the third game of the season.

Unfortunately for OSU, unlike the SAT, there are no re-tests in college football.

So, how do the Buckeyes grade out halfway through the season? Here's a look at the marks they've earned so far:

Quarterback

Todd Boeckman was blindsided by Clay Matthews Jr., on a sack at USC, then got blindsided again by coach Jim Tressel, who made freshman Terrelle Pryor the starter three games into the season after a slow start by Boeckman.

Pryor's ability to make plays as a runner brings an element to the offense Boeckman couldn't. As a passer, he has been better than expected. He completed his first test in a pressure situation on the road when he led the game-winning drive in the final minutes at Wisconsin. He's a good quarterback now. Next year he could be a great one.

Running back

Tailback Chris Wells was voted the team's most valuable player last season and nothing has changed since then.

When Wells is healthy, Ohio State moves the football. When he can't play, it doesn't. The drop-off between Wells and the rest of OSU's running backs is hard to miss.

Adequate is probably the best thing that can be said about the efforts of Dan Herron, Brandon Saine and Maurice Wells when they filled in for Chris Wells, who missed three games with a foot injury.

Receivers

No Ohio State receiver ranks in the top 10 in the Big Ten, the Buckeyes are last in the Big Ten in passing yards and their 5.2 yards-per-reception ranks ninth in the conference.

Brian Robiskie offers the only consistent deep threat, a fact which has not escaped opposing defenses. Both Robiskie and Brian Hartline's midseason statistics are down from last season and no consistent third receiver has emerged.

Offensive line

Moving freshman Mike Brewster into the starting lineup at center probably ranks as the second-biggest personnel surprise of the season after the change at quarterback.

Ohio State had four returning starters on the offensive line, but back-to-back games of fewer than 300 yards total offense, combined with an injury to guard Steve Rehring, led Tressel to shuffle the deck and spend more time with the linemen in practice.

OSU has gained 414 yards and 327 yards the last two games, but those results coincide with the return of Chris Wells. So the jury is still out on the offensive line.

Defensive line

OSU's defensive linemen have combined for four sacks in the first six games and the Buckeyes are tied for last in the Big Ten with nine as a team.

By comparison, Penn State defensive end Aaron Maybin has seven by himself and the Nittany Lions have 17 as a team in their first six games.

This lack of a pass rush makes Ohio State's linebackers and defensive backs less effective than they could be if opposing quarterbacks were feeling some pressure.

Linebackers

Butkus Award winner James Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman never leave the field when OSU is on defense. Ross Homan usually is replaced by a fifth defensive back in passing situations, but still ranks second on the team in tackles behind Laurinaitis. Homan has played well after missing most of last season with a foot injury.

Laurinaitis has had his doubters. But Ohio State's coaches are not among them. They point to consistency and technical proficiency more than ESPN highlights.

Defensive backs

Cornerback Malcolm Jenkins says he is still awaiting his breakout game. But he has been solid, sharing the team lead with safety Kurt Coleman with two interceptions.

Chimdi Chekwa and Jermale Hines have earned playing time with their performances when starting cornerback Donald Washington and backup safety Jamario O'Neal were suspended for the first two games of the season. OSU leads the Big Ten in pass defense.

Special teams

Punter A.J. Trapasso, who leads the Big Ten in punting, has been around so long it seems like he's almost 30 years old. Place kicker Ryan Pretorius, who really is almost 30 years old, is 11 of 14 on field goals, with two of the misses coming from long range.

Ohio State's kick coverage has improved, though its own kick returns haven't been spectacular, with the exception of Ray Small's 69-yard punt return for a score against Ohio University.

Grade: A-

Grade: A-

Grade: A

Grade: D

Grade: C+

Grade: C+

Grade: B

Grade: B-