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Ohio State football: Offensive line needs true guards

By Del Barris

Oct 9, 2021; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes offensive lineman Matthew Jones (55)and offensive lineman Thayer Munford (75)and offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere (78)and offensive lineman Harry Miller (76)before the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2021; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes offensive lineman Matthew Jones (55)and offensive lineman Thayer Munford (75)and offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere (78)and offensive lineman Harry Miller (76)before the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports /
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This was supposed to be one of the great offensive lines in Ohio State football history, if not THE greatest. They were huge, athletic, and three of the five were heralded recruits coming out of high school. The guards and tackles averaged 6’6 ¼” and over 315 pounds. You’d think this would allow the offense to run the ball at will whenever it chose.

That was not the case. All too often, especially in short-yardage, this offensive line struggled to get movement. So, when an offensive line is that big and athletic, why did they struggle all too often run blocking against a good defense? In my opinion, a big factor is a lack of true guards.

Guards Thayer Munford and Paris Johnson, Jr. are both 6’6” and natural tackles. An awful lot has changed in football, but one thing hasn’t: low man wins. This is especially true in short yardage. You need your lineman to get under a defender in order to move them and effectively open a hole. Defensive tackles are usually in the range of 6’2” to 6’4”.

It isn’t easy for a 6’6” guard to get under a defender a few inches shorter when that defender is already coming out of a lower stance. Here is another thing to keep in mind: those shorter defensive tackles are, in many cases, just as heavy as the taller linemen trying to block them. Michigan’s were 6’4”, 310 pounds and 6’3”, 326. A taller lineman just is not going to win a lot of battles run blocking guys like that.

The Buckeyes have plenty of options for true guards on their current roster. Harry Miller started at left guard in 2020. He was the expected starter at center in 2021, but has missed nearly the entire year with an injury. Matthew Jones has starting experience and has been outstanding as the offensive line super sub.

Both are exactly the body type you want in a guard-6’4” and in the 310-315 pound range. Remember former All-Americans Billy Price and Pat Elflein? Same body type as I just described. Perhaps the guy to watch is true freshman Donovan Jackson. The five-star recruit from Texas was the top interior lineman in the country last year. Big things are expected from him.

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The Ohio State football team has a special running back in TreVeyon Henderson, a pretty darn good one in Miyan Williams, and an up-and-coming Evan Pryor. You want a special offensive line to compliment this group and open holes. I firmly believe going back to true guards will go a long way in fixing some of the issues we saw this season.

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