Buckeye Blogger Network
As the saying goes, games are won in the trenches. Cliche or not, a dominating offensive line can take a team to the next level. See: Wisconsin.
With three senior returning starters to anchor the line, Ohio State has the makings of domination in 2011.
Unfortunately, we haven’t reached the point in these ‘way too early’ previews where I don’t have to mention suspensions. Mike Adams, the returning starter at LT, will be serving a suspension to begin the year.
Scratch one of the senior anchors… at least for a few games.
The suspensions go a bit deeper than that for the offensive line… indirectly. With a new QB, inexperienced receivers, and a deep and talented backfield, the trenches will become even more important than usual for the Buckeyes.
Whether it is protecting an inexperienced QB for an extra second or opening holes for dynamic young runners, the offensive line will be the crucial group of players that can get the team through the suspensions without a loss.
Here’s a look at those players. Read More
The next big thing in the middle?
There are a lot of things to get excited about for the upcoming season.
Returning starters, award candidates, dominating lineman, dynamic receivers, depth at running back, hard hitting linebackers, the most experienced offensive line in years… take your pick.
Whatever you want to talk about in the last days before kickoff, there is probably something that causes optimism to burst forth in the hearts and minds of Buckeyes everywhere.
It is difficult to narrow the list and pick just one thing to be the most excited about, but the young guys on the offensive and defensive lines are a dark horse candidate.
Depth in the trenches is crucial for any team to make a championship run, and the young lineman at Ohio State are proving in practice that they are up to the challenge of seeing the field.
If you haven’t already, add youth in the trenches to your numerous sources of optimism and excitement. Read More
