MotSaG Look at the Offense

We’ll have our first preview of the season up shortly, as the Buckeyes prepare for the Buffalo Bulls, but before we get to that, we wanted to review our offensive position previews and how it will all come together on the field.

Offensive Line

The offensive line, for years a blight on Ohio State’s reputation, has come into its own. With Coach Warinner leading the charge, Ohio State’s offensive line has come together to form a cohesive, strong unit that returns everyone but last year’s right tackle.

Corey Linsley (while currently fighting an injury) will start at center, flanked by Marcus Hall and Andrew Norwell. The left side of that line is going to be, as they say, NASTY.

Jack Mewhort will protect Braxton’s blind (and back) side while Taylor Decker handles offensive tackle duties on the right side. Decker is the only newbie on the line and will have to justify his spot in the starting lineup early on. But it will be Mewhort who, as Garth said in his preview, will take on the leadership role of the line:

And what is more, many look at his leadership potential and suggest that the most valuable role he will play is one the veteran inherits–that of team emotional soul after the departure of John Simon from last year’s edition.

To quote Garth again, “Nothing in 2013 will be as beautiful to watch as Ohio State’s big uglies.”

Tight Ends and Receivers

Is this going to be the year of the Tight End? 2012 was supposed to be. As was 2011.

Oh yeah and 2010. Well, whatever. This year’s crop of tight ends is stronger than it has been in a while. With Heuerman and Vannett, 2013 just might be the year of the Tight End.

At wide receiver, Corey Brown, Evan Spencer, and Chris Fields at the “pivot position” will be Miller’s primary targets. After being called a “clown show” a year ago, what type of show will these guys be called this year? The greatest show on field turf?

Backs

Ohio State has yet again another stable of running backs. Getting everyone on the field is now going to be the problem.

That issue is lessened a bit by the fact that Hyde and Smith will miss time, letting the coaches see what the other guys bring to the table besides Jordan Hall. Oh, and that little bit Urban said the other day? About the starting running back job being Hall’s to lose?

“Jordan Hall is the best running back on our team right now,” Meyer said Monday at his news conference previewing Saturday’s opener against Buffalo. “And so he’ll have to lose that spot. I’m talking next week, the week after, whenever. He’s a tailback at Ohio State. He’s earned that right.”

That’s going to make things interesting.

As for quarterback? Enough words have been spilled about Braxton at this point. Just go read sportsMonkey’s preview of the quarterback position.

TL;DR?

But 2013 will be the Braxton show. If Miller can stay healthy, and if he has progressed as much as the coaches and pundits have indicated, there should be no question that he won’t repeat or surpass the bar of success he set for himself last year.

In Conclusion

The offense point up a lot of points last year but struggled at times with consitency. Braxton let his legs do more work than the coaches would have liked. This reared its ugly head against Purdue. This can’t happen again if we want a healthy Braxton in Decemeber and January.

A steady diet of a power run game along with getting the ball in open spaces in the hands of players that can make people miss will be in full display all season long.