Ohio State’s offensive line is a glaring issue entering a consequential game at Penn State on Saturday. The problem began when starting left tackle Josh Simmons suffered a season-ending injury at Oregon on Oct. 12. Then his replacement, Zen Michalski, struggled before sustaining an injury of his own in a narrow 21-17 win against Nebraska.
Michalski’s injury forced startling left guard Donovan Jackson over to tackle. The Buckeyes are now left with limited options. Michalski would likely start if he’s able to play, head coach Ryan Day said Tuesday. And if not, Jackson would presumably move to tackle, putting inexperienced sophomore Luke Montgomery in the spotlight at left guard.
Whether Michalski plays or not, the Nittany Lions’ staunch defensive line should hold an advantage this weekend.
“(Michalski) got beat and he was battling in there, but once he got injured, that obviously changed things. … Had some tough plays that caused him some negative plays,” Day said. “But we know what we see in practice, and we got to continue to support him and make sure that he knows that we have confidence in him when he goes in the game.”
It’s a mismatch James Franklin and defensive coordinator Tom Allen are likely beaming over. Abdul Carter and Dani Dennis-Sutton (if healthy), the team’s two star defensive ends, rushing against Michalski or Jackson — who this past weekend made his first appearance at tackle since high school — and defensive tackle Zane Durant potentially facing the young Montgomery.
With less attention needed on blitz packages, Penn State could predominantly add an extra defensive back to their schemes to guard a talented Ohio State receiving corps that includes Jeremiah Smith, Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate. Buckeyes’ offensive coordinator Chip Kelly understands this challenge as well as anyone.
“I think their two defensive ends are as good as we’ll face. They got a really good interior defensive tackle in Durant that can generate pass rush,” Kelly said. “I think the luxury when you have, when you have a defense where you can generate pressure with just the front four, then you can play a little bit more coverage, play a little bit closer to receivers.”
Day’s focus will obviously be on Carter, a potential top-10 NFL Draft prospect who leads the Nittany Lions with 9.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. “You got to know where 11 is on the field,” Day said of Carter, who, if guarded too heavily, could also create opportunities for other defensive linemen.
“He’s extremely explosive for his size. … He’s a lot like Micah [Parsons] in terms of what he can do with disrupting the game as a pass rusher,” Kelly said. “I understand why they moved him up there. But I think it’s his athleticism that you probably don’t see that athleticism usually in the defensive linemen that you get from him.”
What else did Day, Kelly and Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles say about the Nittany Lions on Tuesday?
Preparing for pair of quarterbacks
It’s unclear whether starting quarterback Drew Allar will return this weekend from an injury he sustained in the Nittany Lions’ 28-13 win at Wisconsin on Saturday. That means the Buckeyes will be tasked with not only preparing for Allar, who Franklin said on Monday would be a game-time decision, but also his backup, Beau Pribula.
“We’ll prepare for both guys being healthy and ready to go,” Day said. “They both bring different things to the table, but both are very effective in what they do. So we’ll go based on what we’ve seen and what’s on the film. But yeah, we have to know who’s in the game.”
Allar has cemented himself as one of the Big Ten’s most efficient quarterbacks this season, especially as a big-play threat with his arm.
Pribula, on the other hand, plays a different brand of football. He’s quick with his legs and typically throws on a play-action looks, which he excelled on en route to completing 11-of-13 pass attempts for 98 yards and a score against the Badgers.
The uncertainty surrounding Penn State’s quarterback situation could cause Knowles some game-planning headaches.
“It’s a big challenge,” Kowles said. “I mean, add in all the formations and motions. When you have a quarterback who can run and hurt you with the run, that really changes the game plan, you know? So you almost have to look at it as two different, two different things.”
Kotelnicki’s ‘different’ offense
Knowles hasn’t run into much trouble in his previous two tests against the Nittany Lions’ offense. But under new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, Penn State has revamped itself as one of the nation’s most explosive and creative units, built primarily to throw defensive coaches off guard. Knowles almost certainly has his hands full ahead of kickoff on Saturday.
“It’s a lot different. A lot different,” Knowles said. “There are multiple formations and shifts, I mean, like, all the time. So all of that window dressing to create stress on the defense, that’s really a lot different. And then you add in the quarterback run game, that’s a lot different.”
This isn’t the same offense Knowles’ defense held to just 10 points last season. It may have a number of the same pieces, but plays under a drastically different system, filled with quirks and gimmicks. Knowles doesn’t want his unit getting distracted. That’s been his message throughout the week.
“Do your job. I mean, it boils down to that. Do your job,” Knowles said. “When it gets to be a lot of those things they do, particularly with this quarterback, it becomes like an option game. You have to be really focused on doing your job.”
Veteran safety could return
Ohio State starting safety Lathan Ransom will participate in a “full week” of practice in preparation for Saturday’s game, Day said. Ransom, who has established himself as both a threat in blitz or pass coverage, was ruled inactive ahead of kickoff against Nebraska.
The Buckeyes have relied on a three-safety set this season, pairing Ransom with Malik Hartford and Alabama transfer Caleb Downs. With Ransom out against the Cornhuskers, it was Jordan Hancock who took his place, which would likely be the plan again if Ohio State’s veteran defensive back is inactive against the Nittany Lions.
