Pat Elflein has been an anchor on the Buckeye Offensive Line for the past few seasons.  He has the talent to plug into either Offensive Guard spots and he can also be effective as a Center.  At 6’3″, 303 lbs. Elflein, last seasons Rimington winner will be a valuable commodity for a Offensive Line needy team in the NFL.  Although a tad bit inconsistent with his strentgh, his effort level and his dedication to his craft are traits that most teams covet.  He needs to improve his strength, but his experience as a wrestler would help him when placed in the game.  Versatility is the name of the game and Elflein is a proven asset at Guard and at Center.  He is projected to go in the 2nd Round.
Enter new Offensive Coordinator and shot caller Kevin Wilson. Â Wilson was the former Hoosier Head Coach, who was successful with the players that were willing to play football at Indiana. Â He comes with the clout of being an Offensive Guru, who can rehabilitate struggling offenses. Â He had coaching stops at North Carolina, Miami, Northwestern, Oklahoma and the previously mentioned Indiana. Â Oklahoma was his best example of installing a potent and dangerous offense, and with Sam Bradford and Adrian Peterson at his disposal, he played on the strengths of his program. Â Wilson has shown what he is capable of when he has the athletes in place, and this move was the perfect situation for both Ohio State and Coach Wilson. Â Ohio State looks to move forward and upgrade until their passing game catches up with the running game. Â Wilson will be up for the challenge as he looks to start a new chapter in his coaching career.
Ryan Day is the designated Quarterbacks Coach and he takes over a treasure trove of players, who are all capable of contributing if necessary. Â He is tasked with molding his room into full-fledged starters and with names such as J.T. Barrett, Joe Burrow, Dwayne Haskins and true freshman Tate Martell, Coach Meyer is not taking any chances with the passing game anymore. Â Day is a former College Quarterback and he comes fresh off back to back NFL seasons under Chip Kelly in Philidelphia and San Fransisco. Now, he looks to develop the personnel at Ohio State, and with the talent in place, he has to re-establish the passing game by teaching them up. Â He is capable of transforming these Quarterbacks into more consistent and capable passers. Â He turned Nick Foles in Philidelphia and Collin Kaepernick in San Fransisco into the players they were during those seasons during his tenure with those teams, and there is no reason to doubt his ability to teach young Quarterbacks to their potential.
Joe Burrow will go into Spring practice as the backup to J.T. Barrett after Stephen Collier put up the cleats. Â Out of all the back-ups, he has the most experience because he played sparingly during blowouts last season. Â Burrow could see game minutes if Barrett goes down with an injury and he is capable of moving the offense because he showed that when he checked in. Â Another Dual Threat Quarterback waiting for an opportunity to show what he is capable of at Ohio State. Â He isn’t as fast as Barrett, but he is deadly accurate when throwing the ball. Â He has the ability to lead and the ability to lead, which is a trait that Barrett displays consistently.
Dwayne Haskins is another Dual Threat weapon waiting to be unleashed.  There has been a ton of hype surrounding him this Spring, and any Buckeye fan would be excited to know that the Buckeyes have another talented player on the roster, that is waiting for an opportunity to shine.  Haskins might see the field, but it might be unlikely unless both Barrett and Burrow get bit by the injury bug.  Haskins has the skills necessary to thrive in the Ohio State system, all he will need is one moment to display his skills.  Haskins has the make of an alpha dog and has taken the steps to work and grind until he gets his shot.
Tate Martell is a true freshman and he comes from Bishop Gorman High School in Nevada, one of the best programs in the nation. Â Martell comes with all the hype, just like the Burrow and Haskins, but he has the high school achievements that will make your jaw drop. Â He is another quarterback that fits the Ohio State mold. Â Another Dual Threat capable of running and throwing if things align to their liking or if the play breaks down. Â Martell won’t see the field this season, but as an early enrollee, he will learn from the upperclassmen above him of the depth chart. Â Barring any injuries, he may see some time, but it unlikely.
Urban Meyer and Dabo Swinney share a bond as they both grew as coaches. Â Coach Meyer has the edge with multiple championships and one of them came at the expense of his current team when he coached up at Florida. Â Coach Swinney on the other hand built Clemson into the monster that they are currently, and he is looking for another shot to prove his worth as a coach and as a team. Â Coach Swinney was playful during media day as he playfully mentioned Meyer’s book, constantly mentioning excerpts when given the chance. Â Coach Meyer on the other hand was dialed in and seemed distant and focused on the task at hand. Â Clemson dished Meyer one of the 5 losses during his tenure at Ohio State. Â He gave Meyer his first consecutive loss streak, after Meyer and the Buckeyes fell short in the Big Ten Championship Game. Â Is Meyer plotting his revenge? Â Will he have something in store for them? Â The doubters, who are assuming that Clemson will move on with little to no challenge from the Buckeyes? Â The mental chess match between Meyer and Swinney began when the Playoff field was announced. Â This is one of the friends turned foes battles.
J.T. Barrett versus Deshaun Watson will be the other friend versus foe matchup to focus your attention on.  Barrett and Watson were good friends when they both served as counselors for an elite passing Camp.  Their relationship has blossomed since as they shared the “see you in Arizona” pleasantries when discovering that their teams will go up against one another.  This will be Watson’s pass-happy attack versus Barrett’s run heavy offense.  Both Quarterbacks aren’t talking and both don’t have to with the body of work that they have created with their respective teams. Both teams will play fast and hard, both teams will be prepared for the kitchen sink at each other, both teams will ride the wave with their Quarterback.  Both players are proven winners and they will look to display their value on the field.
The battle in the trenches will be another factor in the game. Ohio State has three new starters on the Offensive Line with Junior Jamarco Jones, True Freshman Michael Jordan and Sophomore Isaiah Prince, who has been the chink in the Slobs’ armor at Right Tackle. Â Prince will be the crux of if Ohio State is productive on offense and Jordan will also be tested early and often. Â Prince will face star Defensive Lineman and former Ohio State target, Christian Wilkins and Jordan faces another beast lineman and another former target, Dexter Lawrence. Â Wilkins is a quick twitch lineman, who flashes the speed and burst to blow past linemen and Lawrence has the bulk and outweighs all the Slobs at 340 lbs. Â He will be used to take double-teams to free up his companions. Â He is also a bully in the interior and the leaders for the Slobs will be tested and busy the entire game. Â Pat Elflein and Billy Price will look to stop the bleeding attempting to keep Barrett upright and untouched. Â It is easier said than done with the talent on Clemson’s D-Line.
Clemson’s has a stout Offensive Line and they are beyond beefed up as they average 310 lbs on every position with their Right Guard being the heaviest at 340 lbs. Â The Rushmen will face their toughest challenge of the year trying to reach Deshaun Watson in the backfield. Â Clemson boasts a Left Tackle and former Ohio State targer, Mitch Hyatt who has allowed one sack in his tenure at Clemson. Â This matchup will be another factor as the battle in the trenches looks to become another tough, but exciting matchup for both teams. Â The trench wars will be one of the highlights and the main attraction of the game due to Ohio State’s inability to protect the line line of scrimmage. Â With Prince struggling mightily, will he finally earn his star in College Football circles? Â Or will he fail once again? Â You will never know until the first couple of drives but it very intriguing and my heart hurts just thinking about what could go wrong and what could potentially happen.
Ohio State has one of the best secondaries in College Football and they will be needed to stop Clemson’s explosive offense. Â Ohio State has playmakers at every level on the defense and Clemson does too, but players like Malik Hooker is a scoring threat with Conley and Lattimore locking down their receivers. Â The explosive offense will be a problem as well because Clemson, like Ohio State has playmakers on offense, who can break the game wide open for Watson. Â This matchup focuses on WR’s Mike Williams, Artavis Scott, Hunter Renfrow, TE Jordan Leggett and RB Wayne Gallman matching up against Gareon Conley, Marshon Lattimore, Damon Arenette, Denzel Ward, Damon Webb and Malik Hooker. Â This will be another exciting matchup between a suffocating defense versus and crazy good offense. Â If this doesn’t get you as excited and paranoid as I currently am, you might be dead. Â Get a pulse because this could be the matchup that could decide who advances to the big dance. Â Ohio State collects athlete’s and playmakers, who add a different element to the defense. Â Their secondary is one of the best in taking the ball away and turning it into points. Â The Buckeyes have 7 TD’s for points and Hooker has 3 of them. Â Turnover’s will be key in this contest that could go either way.
Clemson initially opened up as a three point underdog, even as the higher seed. Â They feel slighted and they should because their playmakers will look to do some damage on the vaunted Ohio State Secondary who is known to shift the momentum during close games. Â Mike Williams is a dog and a playmaker who can also shift games in their favor. Â The rest of the playmakers who start and a few of their key reserves would also do the same. Â It is just a matter of protecting the ball and their Quarterback. Â It is a strength versus strength battle with both teams as they both look to advance forward. Â This will not be a cakewalk for either team. Â Ohio State’s Secondary will be one of the best that they have seen so far this season and likewise with Clemson’s Offense. Â Clemson will be the best offense that they have faced this season because the depth and talent at every position. Â This will be crazy to see both squads fighting to advance into the Championship Game. Â Talent versus talent for the glory.
On the other end, the Clemson Secondary will be leaned on to keep the Buckeyes contained. Â If Gallman struggles, then it’ll be a defensive battle and both teams are pretty good on offense and defense, it is just a matter of opportunity to make plays. Â That is all you could ask for. Â Both teams will look to cancel each other out and this will be the epic battle of the century. Â The strengths and weaknesses are obvious and well documented and it is up to every unit to produce or make play when needed to. Â This will be a crazy game filled with many momentum swings and it will be a good one. Â Everyone will be glued to their seats as we watch how the game unfolds. Â Are we in store for a blowout or another overtime dance with another well-coached contender. Â Who knows, but we will find out in a couple of hours.