-
Follow us on Twitter @buckeyeplanet and @bp_recruiting, like us on Facebook! Enjoy a post or article, recommend it to others! BP is only as strong as its community, and we only promote by word of mouth, so share away!
- Thread starter ScriptOhio
- Start date
ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
“I’m encouraged in that they all have the arm strength and arm talent to make a lot of throws that we like and need to make,” Wilson said. “I think the offensive line and the tight end group will complement them – and the running backs – and I think we can be a solid running team. We’ve been a pretty good running team. We’ve been one of the stronger run teams in the conference and in the country. And if you can run the ball well, you can force the defense to maybe load up a little bit more and then you get those one-on-one passing plays. And when you’ve got the receivers that we have (it’s a luxury for the quarterback).
“So, I think their ability to throw the football is very nice. I think they all move better than most people think. They are not pure drop-back guys. They can extend plays. They can scramble around and move and make a little chicken salad when the chicken’s not there all the time. They can run some zone read in the quarterback run game when you need them to run the ball. Even though they’re not elite runners, they’re athletic enough.
“So, I was impressed with their skillset of throwing, their ability to move, but they all need to play. They need to recognize coverage and distribute the ball. So, the shortcomings is they are young. Sometimes you’ve got to flop around. Sometimes what you see on video tape is different from what you see on the field because now you’re at ground level and you’ve got people coming at you, and how do you see that and how do you process?
“So, they need to play and – I think you guys know this – it’s hard when you’ve got three really good players to get three guys the reps that you need. So, we’ve got to be very creative in how to do that. You want to be very fair and give them all a chance to develop and give them all a chance to potentially be the starter. But at several positions, you’re going to need more than one, they just need to play and I know Coach Day and (quarterbacks coach Corey) Dennis will do a great job with them.”
Upvote
0
ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
Ohio State options
Paris Johnson Jr.: The second-highest ranked offensive lineman to ever commit to Ohio State, Paris Johnson could start at offensive tackle for nearly every team in the country. But the Buckeyes return their top two tackles from last season with Nicholas Petit-Frere and Thayer Munford back, meaning they don’t have a spot as a bookend for Johnson to become a dominant tackle. The former five-star will happily play guard if that means he’s in the starting lineup. Johnson is too good to keep off the field, and he’ll likely start at guard for a season before moving out to tackle and becoming a star from the outside. The opening at right guard is his job to lose.
Matthew Jones made the most of his opportunity as an Ohio State backup last season. (Birm/Lettermen Row)
Matthew Jones: Matthew Jones was the No. 1 center prospect coming out of high school in 2018. He certainly has the talent to win a starting job for the Buckeyes. Last season when the roster was flooded with COVID-19 cases, Jones stepped in and started games in place of Harry Miller at left guard. He has the ability to play anywhere in the interior of the offensive line. He’ll have a hard time showing he’s better-suited than Paris Johnson to start for Ohio State. But he’ll have a chance to prove himself and win a job in camp.
Luke Wypler: A second-year interior guard/center, Luke Wypler has already proven he’s versatile enough to play guard or center, depending on which position he is needed to play. He earned most of the reps at center during spring practice. He’s more likely to win the center or left guard jobs than win the right guard spot.
Ohio State offensive lineman Josh Fryar could be making a push. (Birm/Lettermen Row)
Josh Fryar: With the injury to Harry Miller, Luke Wypler and Matthew Jones took snaps at center, and Josh Fryar began to see time at left guard. He hasn’t played right guard but if he is one of the best five offensive linemen on the roster, his chance could come on the right side of the interior.
Ben Christman: True freshmen rarely ever become starters during their first fall. Ben Christman enrolled early, giving him valuable reps on the offensive line in the spring, but he needs more development before being considered for a starting role on the Ohio State offensive line.
Donovan Jackson: One of the top-six offensive linemen to ever commit to Ohio State, Donovan Jackson didn’t enroll early and is only arriving on campus now. He is certainly talented enough to push for playing time as a freshman, but the long climb up the depth chart may be too much for Jackson to earn a starting role.
Upvote
0
ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
Ohio State options
Cade Stover: After beginning his career on the other side of the ball, Cade Stover began transitioning to tight end last spring. The shutdown slowed that growth on offense down, but it didn’t stop Stover completely. He contributed on special teams last year while gaining reps at tight end in practice. He’s versatile enough to block and catch passes, and he’s physical enough to dominate the line of scrimmage in the run game. Stover has a chance to cement himself as the No. 2 tight end behind Ruckert. And if he’s as good as advertised this season, he could make it harder for the Buckeyes to take one of their two tight ends off the field.
Gee Scott: A top-10 wide receiver prospect in the country just one year ago, Gee Scott has a huge opportunity in front of him. Scott came to Ohio State as part of the loaded 2020 wide receiver haul for Brian Hartline. But as the Buckeyes continue to stockpile talent outside, Scott and his big frame can become an elite weapon at tight end. Scott puts on weight with ease and has incredible catching ability. If he can put it all together with an ability to block and do everything Ohio State asks of its tight ends, he could be a future star for the Buckeyes offense. Will that happen this year? He made the transition to tight end in the spring. He could be one year away from having a major impact, but time will tell.
Joe Royer: While in high school, Joe Royer was technically a tight end, but he played outside as a true big-bodied wide receiver. Yes, he put up good numbers and became a national recruit, but he had plenty of development to go through once he became a Buckeyes tight end. Similar to Jeremy Ruckert, Royer arrived at Ohio State needing to improve his blocking before he could be considered for playing time. He possesses the receiving skills necessary to become a weapon for the Buckeyes passing attack. Has his blocking improved enough to make him an option as a complete tight end alongside Ruckert? He’ll have to prove that this fall.
Sam Hart: Ohio State tried to add two tight ends in the class of 2021, but the Buckeyes ended with just one. And Sam Hart is a good tight end to land on the recruiting trail. The former state title-winning wrestler has an uphill battle if he wants to find the field for meaningful reps in his freshman season. But he has the tools and physicality to do just that. Can he quickly leap other tight ends on the depth chart for playing time?
Mitch Rossi: A veteran walk-on, Mitch Rossi has proven he can play at Ohio State. He takes on more of a fullback role than a traditional tight end spot, making it tough to find a place in the offense. Maybe the Buckeyes will use him in certain situations, but it’s hard to imagine Rossi earning an expanded role with Jeremy Ruckert.
Corey Rau: A graduate transfer who came from SMU during last offseason, Corey Rau is a big body who certainly can block as well as other tight ends. But the loaded depth chart may be too much for the veteran to overcome.
Upvote
0
Offense is stupidly loaded. Only weakness is QB experience, not talent mind you, experience. I feel a Nati coming.
Upvote
0
ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
Do you think the offense can average more than 41.0 ppg (i.e. better than in 2020)?
I'm thinking the defense will be better than 2020 where they allowed 25.8 ppg. Hell, the pass defense has to be better.
B1G stats: https://bigten.org/stats.aspx?path=football&year=2020
Upvote
0
I mean, Best WR group in the country. Best OL group in the country. Maybe best TE group in the country. Very good RB group. All the QB has to do is not make mistakes.
I think you're right about the Defense too. The DL is going to raise hell this season which will only make the back 7 look that much better. We're good.
Upvote
0
Uh, you're forgetting it also falls on the DEs too, without them, they make the DBs jobs that much more difficult. Check out what happened in 2020. A better pass rush makes the DBs look a lot better
Upvote
0