Ohio State head coach Ryan Day provided an update that may alleviate some concerns about the team's long injury report for the Maryland game this past Saturday. The Buckeyes won 45-16 at the "Shoe" against the Terrapins.
Keyword some.
With a battle in Bloomington with defending champs Indiana this coming weekend, Day claimed that some of the players who were held out of Week 6 will be suited up and ready to go in Week 7.
“I don’t think we’ll get all of those guys back that were on the list, but for sure we’re going to get you know a good portion of them back for next week,” Day said postgame. “So that’ll be good. And then obviously got to have a good week of practice and stay healthy.”
Receivers Brandon Inniss and Devin McCuin, offensive lineman Austin Siereveld, linebacker Christian Alliegro, and nickelback Jay Timmons were among those who weren't in uniform for Ohio State's win over Maryland.
The Buckeyes can't afford to miss that much talent against the Hoosiers.
Jeremiah Smith can carry the receiving corps through injuries
If Inniss and McCuin are out, Jeremiah Smith should be able to keep the offense afloat.
Smith has nearly three times as many receptions as the No. 2 receiver. He has nearly five times as many receptions as No. 3, which three players tied for through six games.
So far, Inniss and McCuin have shown flashes, but haven't been indispensable to this offense.
Ohio State's offensive line can badly use the help on the right side
Ohio State can really use Siereveld and/or Daniels back in the mix right about now. The line gave up consistent pressure on Julian Sayin all afternoon against Maryland on Saturday.
Throwing Jake Cook into the fire is a good way to build for the future against an opponent like the Terrapins, but the Hoosiers have a vaunted defensive front that must be met with maximum resistance.
The only way that happens is if Siereveld is back in the interior and Daniels reprises his role at right tackle. Neither graded out particularly well early, but the line has its most consistency from the offseason with both back on the right side.
Ohio State needs Jay Timmons and Christian Alliegro back
Timmons has been a quick study at the nickel position during his true freshman season. Alliegro wasn't the quickest study, but he's caught on by this point.
Having either miss the Indiana game would be a disaster. Particularly Timmons, who has Davion Chandler as a major weapon out of the slot. Outside receivers like Nick Marsh and Charlie Becker will give the Buckeyes hell, but being without Timmons opens up even more avenues for Indiana quarterback Josh Hoover in the passing game.
We'll see what kind of injury luck Ohio State has during the Big Ten game of the season. Missing the wrong combination of players could be a major setback before opening kickoff even occurs.
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