Three keys to the Ohio State football team beating Penn State
By Ryan Stano
2. The Ohio State football team must have the offensive line in a different configuration
While speaking to the media during his weekly press conference, Ryan Day mentioned that Zen Michalski could still be the starting left tackle if he's able to return from his injury. Michalski left the game in the fourth quarter against Nebraska with what looked like a leg injury.
When he was out there, Michalski was terrible. He was whiffing on blocks in the run game and the passing game, Quite frankly, he looked overmatched for a senior who has spent four years in the program. That's an indictment on the coaching he's been getting from Justin Frye.
At any rate, he can't go back out there again. He was so bad that the Ohio State football team has to have someone else out there at left tackle to protect Will Howard's blindside. Kick Donovan Jackson out to tackle and reshuffle some guards if you have to. Michalski can't play.
If they keep the offensive line configuration the same as it was last weekend, they will lose this game. That's how bad Michalski was. Of course, the rest of the offensive line needs to play better too. Michalski wasn't the only reason why the Buckeyes only could get 2.1 yards per carry on the ground.
I'd be shocked if I saw Michalski out there playing in this game. There's no way Day can let that happen again. The final key to Ohio State winning this game has to deal with containing the quarterback on the defensive side of the ball.