The Biggest Test Remains: Ohio State Football’s O-Line Holds Up Despite Injuries

In the ever-demanding world of college football, the importance of a team’s offensive line is often understated. Fans and analysts tend to focus on the flashier positions—quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers—but at the heart of every successful football program lies a formidable offensive line. Ohio State University, known for its dominant football program, is no stranger to such importance. Over the past few seasons, their offensive line has been a key to their success, providing protection for their quarterbacks and creating running lanes for their backs. However, the 2024 season has presented new challenges as injuries have tested the resilience and depth of Ohio State’s offensive front.

Early Season Setbacks: The Injury Bug Strikes

The season began with great promise for Ohio State’s offensive line, as they returned several experienced starters from the previous year. However, the unpredictability of football soon reared its head, as key players began to go down with injuries. The Buckeyes were faced with a confluence of issues: offensive line stalwarts nursing injuries, a young but talented group of backups, and the looming pressure to perform under the weight of national title aspirations.

Despite the setbacks, the offensive line held strong through the first few weeks of the season, and this was largely due to the depth and coaching that has become synonymous with Ohio State football.

Key figures such as senior tackle Paris Johnson Jr. and guards like Donovan Jackson were expected to anchor the line. Yet, both players found themselves dealing with nagging injuries, pushing their limits in a grueling season. Additionally, starting center Luke Wypler, a critical figure for Ohio State’s offense, suffered an injury during a key matchup, forcing the coaching staff to make quick adjustments. This is where the true test of Ohio State’s offensive line would begin—not only in terms of performance but in terms of leadership, adaptability, and next-man-up mentality.

Depth and Development: The Unsung Heroes of the Offensive Line

Ohio State’s success in handling these injuries can be attributed to one key factor: depth. While the loss of star players is never ideal, the Buckeyes have developed a pipeline of talent along the offensive line that allows for effective plug-and-play substitutions. This depth, built through recruiting, development, and coaching, has allowed Ohio State to weather the storm and maintain a strong offensive front despite the challenges.

One name that stands out in this scenario is freshman offensive tackle Luke Montgomery. While not originally expected to play significant minutes, Montgomery’s early inclusion in games proved invaluable. His development throughout the season gave the coaching staff more confidence to rotate him in at critical junctures. Montgomery’s ability to adjust quickly to the college game was a testament to Ohio State’s recruiting prowess and development process. His growth throughout the season mirrored that of other young offensive linemen, such as tackles Tegra Tshabola and Josh Simmons.

The ability to plug in young talent when older players go down is a testament to how well Ohio State’s coaching staff, led by head coach Ryan Day and offensive line coach Justin Frye, has recruited and developed talent. Frye, in particular, has proven adept at shaping players into serviceable and even exceptional performers, regardless of their experience level. His ability to coach up his linemen to perform in high-pressure situations has been vital in keeping the offense moving forward, even with injuries piling up.

Additionally, veteran leadership from players like senior offensive tackle Dawand Jones has been crucial. While Jones isn’t the most vocal player on the team, his steady presence and work ethic have inspired his teammates to step up when their number is called. Players like Jones help maintain a sense of continuity, even as injuries create turbulence across the line. This combination of seasoned leadership and youthful energy has been one of the biggest reasons the offensive line has held up so well despite the setbacks.

Adjustments in Scheme: Offensive Line Coach Justin Frye’s Influence

Injuries to key players also meant that the offensive line needed to adjust to new alignments, techniques, and play calls. Offensive line coach Justin Frye’s adaptability has been integral in making sure these changes were executed seamlessly. Frye, who took over the offensive line coaching duties before the 2022 season, has been able to implement a scheme that is flexible enough to accommodate a variety of players and their unique skill sets.

Ohio State’s offensive line has employed a mix of zone-blocking and power-blocking schemes that rely heavily on quick footwork, hand placement, and communication. These schemes require the linemen to think on their feet and adjust mid-play, which can be difficult when players are unfamiliar with each other. However, under Frye’s guidance, the offensive line has adjusted well.

One notable adjustment this season has been the increased use of quick-hitting runs, designed to get the ball into the hands of running backs before defenders have time to break through the offensive line. This scheme has helped mitigate the pressure on the offensive line, as the quick release of the ball doesn’t allow defensive linemen to pin their ears back and attack the quarterback.

This strategy also played into Ohio State’s ability to protect the quarterback, as it forced defenses to respect the run game and not solely focus on pass rushing. Ohio State’s offensive line has been adept at creating running lanes, even when down a few key players. The Buckeyes’ ability to adjust their game plan and rely on their depth in the trenches has allowed them to remain competitive in every matchup, regardless of injuries.

Quarterback Protection: The Key to Ohio State’s Success

When assessing the success of Ohio State’s offensive line, one cannot ignore the importance of protecting the quarterback. In modern college football, where high-flying offenses dominate the game, a quarterback’s protection is paramount. Injuries to offensive linemen would naturally put the team’s signal caller in jeopardy, and Ohio State has seen its fair share of ups and downs at the quarterback position in 2024.

The Buckeyes started the season with their highly touted quarterback, Kyle McCord, who had a promising future under center. However, McCord’s success or failure has often been tied to how well the offensive line protects him. In a few instances this season, Ohio State’s offensive line faced high-pressure situations, especially when facing elite defenses such as Michigan and Penn State. Despite the injuries, McCord’s ability to stand in the pocket and make plays has been aided by the solid protection provided by the offensive line.

While McCord has shown flashes of brilliance, he has had to deal with defenders in his face at times, but the offensive line has done a commendable job of limiting the hits. The consistency of protection allowed McCord to take advantage of Ohio State’s deep receiving corps and distribute the ball to playmakers like Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka.

The balance between strong pass protection and creating space for running backs has been crucial for Ohio State’s offense. Quarterback protection directly correlates with offensive success, and the Buckeyes’ ability to keep McCord clean has been essential to their offensive efficiency.

The Road Ahead: The Ultimate Test Awaits

As the regular season winds down, Ohio State is preparing for the ultimate test: the College Football Playoff. The Buckeyes have made it through a challenging regular season with an offensive line that has withstood numerous injuries. But the challenges aren’t over. The College Football Playoff presents a new set of hurdles, with elite teams such as Georgia, Michigan, and Alabama waiting in the wings. These teams boast ferocious defensive lines that will test Ohio State’s offensive line to its limits.

The ability of Ohio State’s offensive line to keep McCord upright and open up running lanes will likely determine the outcome of these high-stakes games. The Buckeyes will need to continue to lean on their depth and adaptability, making sure that young players who have stepped up remain confident and poised in the biggest games of their careers.

However, if the offensive line can continue to protect the quarterback, open holes for the running backs, and adjust to the relentless pressure of elite defenses, Ohio State has the talent to make a deep run in the playoffs. The O-line’s performance over the last few games of the season will determine whether the Buckeyes can achieve their ultimate goal: winning a national championship.