Ohio State Football: Buckeyes still strong, wrongfully underrated
The Ohio State football team is being doubted yet again by the media. The Buckeyes are still the team to beat and should not be underrated.
Unless the news is coming from inside of Columbus Ohio State is being overlooked as one of the top teams in the country and even their own conference by many.
It is widely believed the losses of Urban Meyer and Dwayne Haskins will cause the Buckeyes to take a step back from a year ago. That may be true, but the step Ohio State will take is not backwards – it is to the side and then in a new direction.
As the Ohio State football season is now only about a hundred days away, the world is inching closer to the official start of a new era in Buckeye football. What many fail to realize is the culture has not changed and the core coaches and personnel have not really much either.
Ryan Day was mentored and hand chosen by Urban Meyer to lead the Buckeyes because he believed in him and saw Day exhibit elite qualities both on and off the field. Transitions, are not usually smooth, however, in Ohio State’s case it is which is a benefit of hiring in-house.
Under Day the level of recruiting has been maintained as he landed the highest rated player for the Buckeyes in recorded history in Justin Fields. Ohio State will also boast a veteran defense, led by Chase Young, for the first time in a few years as well as offer an experienced group of wide receivers and talented backfield on the offensive end.
Despite these reasons and many others, Ohio State is still playing second fiddle to their rival, Michigan, in the projected conference standings and postseason conversations. Coach Day will certainly have his work cut out for him in year one.
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But he will be surrounded with the players and resources necessary to maintain the Buckeyes’ high level of play in what could be Phase II of a sustained strong run by the Scarlet and Gray.
Granted Ryan Day has not proven himself yet as a full-time head coach nor has Justin Fields as a starting quarterback so the speculation and wait-and-see approach is warranted. Moreover, the expectations have not wavered because of Meyer’s retirement, in fact they may have even gotten stronger.
Ohio State will have its best all around defense since 2016 and will run an offense that is a perfect marriage of the styles of play of Braxton Miller, JT Barrett and Dwayne Haskins. Expect to see shades of all three former Buckeye offenses as Fields operates a well-oiled machine full of explosive talent.
Next. Bosa’s injury situation and Washington found a home. dark
Do not write off Day and the Buckeyes solely because he is a first year head coach, but if doubt is the way of thinking, be prepared for a handful of surprises and head-scratching moments. Ohio State did not go anywhere.