Ryan Day isn't overly high on or utterly disappointed in Ohio State's tight end room through the first three games.
Day believes the Buckeyes' position group has been "solid," but he stopped short of fully endorsing the primarily blocking unit.
“It’s solid. But I can’t sit here and tell you anything’s exactly where we want it right now. We’ll use this game and evaluate it...We’re going to need them all. It’s a long season, and each guy brings a different skillset to the table," Day said postgame on Saturday, following a 59-3 win over Kent State.
Thus far, the tight end room has fewer than 100 receiving yards. Nate Roberts, Mason Williams, Maxence LeBlanc, and Brody Lennon have a combined 92 yards on nine receptions.
Of Julian Sayin's 839 passing yards, which rank No. 24 in the country and No. 6 in the Big Ten, the tight end room combines to make up a sliver.
That's not much of the room's role, though. With what the tight ends are being asked to do, the room is, as Day said, solid. Arthur Smith's offense involves frequent heavy personnel usage for run plays and max-protect sets.
Smith's gotten what he's needed from the blue-collar group.
Ohio State's tight ends are not the reason for the rushing malaise
The Buckeyes' disappointing running game is not the fault of the tight ends. You can blame basically any other element of the run.
The running backs have been lacking vision somewhat. The biggest offender here is Isaiah West. Meanwhile, the interior offensive line has been severely underwhelming. The right side of the line has been a particular sore spot.
Tight ends have sealed the edge well, in particular Roberts and Williams, the latter of whom has long graded out well in protection. Meanwhile, Roberts has transitioned into a full-time fullback/H-back role. He's seamlessly slid into that position.
The room isn't doing anything flashy, but it's enabling Smith's offense.
Ohio State's tight ends kept an elite Texas pass rush at bay
During OSU's only non-MAC Power 4 challenge this season, a dominant Longhorns pass rush was kept at bay by the Buckeyes' protection. For the most part. Texas defensive ends Colin Simmons and Lance Jackson each had a sack.
Simmons beat Ohio State left tackle Ian Moore off the blindside. Jackson's was a result of Sayin holding the ball too long. Daniels was the blocker most responsible.
The Longhorns had more action from their tight ends, with Emaree Winston making a massive 4th-and-9 catch to convert a massive first down on the initial touchdown drive on Texas's road from down 20.
The Buckeyes got exactly what they needed from theirs, though. That's been the story of the season so far in Columbus.
It's tough going from Max Klare's athleticism and highlight-reel skill set to a more subdued group. The offensive shift to Smith's philosophies called for it, however. And the early returns are pretty promising, all told.
We'll see if the room could make the improvements Day is calling for, whatever they may be.
Add us as a preferred source on Google