Ohio State left guard Luke Montgomery doesn't believe PFF is an accurate measure of offensive line play. In fact, Montgomery calls the stats service "pfft."
Montgomery was named PFF's Big Ten left guard of the week after the Buckeyes' 31-14 win over Iowa at Kinnick Stadium this past Saturday. Right guard Gabe VanSickle and receiver Jeremiah Smith were also honored by PFF.
Montgomery doesn't see it as an honor, at least for him or VanSickle.
“I really don’t look at those things. I think it’s really dumb,” Montgomery said. "They don’t really know what they are talking about when it comes to the offensive line."
PFF hasn't graded the offensive line out very well this season at an individual level. As legendary Notre Dame offensive lineman Aaron Taylor told me in the offseason, though, the Joe Moore Award -- the award he founded to honor the best offensive line in college football -- is given to a whole unit because of the teamwork element.
There is specifically not individual awards for each offensive line position because of the fact that each lineman heavily relies on his counterparts.
"We're playing against players that are equally as strong as us, but oftentimes more athletic. So our technique has to be refined, and we are also the only position where every single play is dependent on somebody else playing adjacent to us and in combination with them," Taylor said.
"Walk-on or All-American alike, it doesn't matter. There is equity in the room, and all that is required. If you sacrifice yourself and your ego for the greater good and give everything you have."
RELATED: Aaron Taylor said Ohio State OL was 'way ahead of the pack' in the offseason
PFF is grading linemen on an individual basis, but the linemen themselves aren't playing with individual assignments. Sometimes the tackles are on an island with edge rushers, but that's never the case for the interior.
Ryan Day happy with the offensive line in wake of Phillip Daniels' injury
Ryan Day is happy about the offensive line in the wake of right tackle Phillip Daniels' ongoing lower-leg injury.
Austin Siereveld has slid over to the right tackle spot from right guard, and VanSickle has taken over at the guard spot.
Day said he'd have to identify how to handle Daniels' return when it happens.
“I’ve always felt like you know you don’t lose a position just because you get injured. That being said, I think there’s a little bit of rhythm going on right there, so we’ll have to identify that as it goes," Day said.
Day admitted that the team expected Daniels back sooner. Daniels has been limited in practice this week and may be slowly integrated back into the rotation.
Day said the team is "anxious" to get Daniels back. He's probably not anxious enough to rush Daniels back to face Maryland, though.
With the team boasting experience and depth coming into the season, the trenches have covered for Daniels' absence so far. Still, the offseason continuity would clearly be appreciated right now.
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