Ohio State Football: Why LB by committee will be a good thing

Ryan Day recently said that the linebacker positions will be by committee. Here’s why that’s a good thing for the Ohio State football team.

The Ohio State football team doesn’t have any experienced linebackers on the roster. None of these guys have played big snaps for the Buckeyes. We don’t even know if one of them is eligible yet. A lot of things are in flux with this group before the season starts.

That’s part of the reason why Ryan Day said that the linebacker position will be by committee. That means that a lot of guys are going to get a chance to play until they decide on the guys they need. It may sound like a bad thing, but here’s why it’s a good thing.

It’s a good thing because it means weaknesses that one guy may have will get covered up by another one. Steele Chambers hasn’t played linebacker at the college level, but his speed can help cover up someone else’s lack of it. Dallas Gant‘s coverage skills help make up for Teradja Mitchell‘s lack of them.

We will get to see a lot of guys rotate in and out until true starters emerge. This gives the Buckeyes a lot of flexibility in that room. It also means they aren’t locked into leaving guys out there who have been starting that may not be as good anymore. Everything is up for grabs.

This approach also keeps guys fresh. A healthy rotation will keep guys healthy as the season goes on and stronger when the end of the season approaches. Linebacker by committee also helps build experience for a lot of guys in a room where there is virtually zero.

The biggest reason why Day feels comfortable doing this is because of how much talent this team has in that room. They may not be proven, but they are still really athletic and good. It may not be until the end of the season where Buckeye fans feel comfortable where this room is.

I’m very excited to see how practices progress and who gets the most reps from this group.