Is Ohio State Football starting the right five at OL?
The Ohio State football team takes on the Maryland Terrapins on Saturday afternoon. Is Ohio State starting the right offensive linemen?
The Ohio State football team looks to keep its perfect season going on Saturday afternoon against Maryland. The Buckeyes are coming off their best rushing performance of the season last week against Indiana and it has some wondering if Ryan Day has the best starting five out there at offensive line.
Day has always been a believer in starting the best five offensive linemen, regardless of position. He did it last season when he moved All-Big Ten offensive tackle Thayer Munford inside to guard and let Nicholas Petit-Frere and Dawand Jones play tackle. He had Paris Johnson Jr, a natural tackle, play guard as well last season. It didn’t matter to Day, he just wanted his best five out there.
Fast forward to this season and it seems like the starting five are all playing their natural positions. Donovan Jackson has lived up to his five-star billing at guard while Luke Wypler, Paris Johnson Jr, and Dewand Jones have all been very solid. This leaves me questioning the fifth offensive line spot though, 10 games into the season.
Senior right guard Matthew Jones has paid his dues to the program and deserved this shot at starting this season. And he hasn’t been bad. The problem is that he hasn’t been good either. Jones is average at best, mainly because he’s been hurt. And for a team trying to beat Michigan next week and win a national title, average probably isn’t good enough.
Last week Josh Fryar started at right tackle in place of an injured Dewand Jones. He was excellent, grading out as a champion by Ryan Day and offensive line coach Justin Frye. Fryar consistently caved the right side of the line on running plays, opening holes for Miyan Williams and Dallan Hayden to run through untouched.
Next. Three bold predictions for Maryland game. dark
If Ryan Day is serious about starting the best five offensive linemen that Ohio State has, Josh Fryar needs to be on the field. And it should happen this week against Maryland so that he’s fully prepared to go up against a very good Michigan defensive line next Saturday in Columbus.