First Posted: 9/15/2014
Eight position by position predictions for Ohio State the rest of the season:
QUARTERBACKS
The No. 1 thing to look for and hope for is continued good health for J.T. Barrett. The redshirt freshman is clearly the man Ohio State’s coaches want at QB with Braxton Miller out for the season.
Barrett has been efficient as a passer in two of OSU’s first three games. As a runner, he’s not Miller but he’s OK.
RUNNING BACKS
Running the football will be a young man’s game at Ohio State this season.
Sophomore Ezekiel Elliott and freshman Curtis Samuel have been OSU’s top two options in the running game and appear ready to hold those roles the rest of the season.
Dontre Wilson and Jalin Marshall will get carries as hybrid backs and also will be threats as receivers.
RECEIVERS
Michael Thomas was known as “The Mistake Guy” for his numerous errors in practice until this year. But after six catches against Virginia Tech and two touchdown receptions against Kent State, he could be developing into a No. 1 or No. 2 receiver.
Expect Devin Smith to continue to be a deep threat but not as big a factor in the short or intermediate passing game. Tight end Jeff Heuerman’s lingering foot injury could be a situation to watch.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Chances are excellent this group will not develop into anything close to last year’s offensive line. But if it can become, to borrow one of coach Urban Meyer’s words, “functional,” the Buckeyes could be all right.
If they do that, they could begin to think again about playing for the Big Ten championship. If not, there’s always next year. The starting lineup on the line could remain uncertain and depth could be a persistant question.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Replacing Noah Spence, who was suspended indefinitely last week after a second failed drug test in two years, could become a season-long project. Whoever takes his place probably will be a step down from Spence’s first-team All-Big Ten level of play last season.
The rest of the defensive line, led by Joey Bosa, could face more double teams without Spence to draw attention away from them.
LINEBACKER
Look for more Raekwon McMillan and maybe less Curtis Grant at middle linebacker. McMillan, a 5-star freshman recruit, had two sacks in a 66-0 win over Kent State and a big hit in a 35-21 loss to Virginia Tech. Darron Lee, who had a 61-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown against Navy, looks like he will continue to make big plays.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
New names like Eli Apple, Cam Burrows and Vonn Bell could help Ohio State out of the pit its pass defense sank into last season.
The results of what was portrayed as a massive defensive makeover were inconclusive in the first three games. If the Buckeyes withstand the challenge of containing Cincinnati QB Gunner Kiel on Sept. 27, the improvement will be confirmed or at least more than just talk.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Fans have been waiting since the beginning of last season for Dontre Wilson to break loose on a kickoff or punt return for a touchdown. He’s been close but has been tripped up several times. That touchdown could happen sometime in the upcoming weeks.
Freshman kicker Sean Nuernberger will probably not have the consistency OSU fans have come to take for granted in their kickers. Punter Cameron Johnston already has two punts of less than 30 yards, but that might not happen again this season.
