Most of the talk around Ohio State-Indiana will focus on Jeremiah Smith chasing Braylon Edwards’ record, Josh Hoover’s perfect interception record and whether the Buckeyes can avenge last December. But if Ohio State loses in Bloomington on Saturday, I think the reason will be on the edges of its offensive line.
Remember how last year’s Big Ten title game was decided. Indiana sacked Julian Sayin five times and held Ohio State to 58 rushing yards in a 13-10 win. The Buckeyes never found a rhythm, and most
of that started up front.
Ten months later, Indiana’s front might be even better, and Ohio State’s line is coming off a month of injuries and shuffling.
Indiana’s front is the best Ohio State will see all season
Ryan Day called Indiana’s defensive line “one of the biggest challenges we’ll have all season” on Tuesday, and that’s not coachspeak.
Through six games, the Hoosiers rank third nationally with 49 tackles for loss and 20 sacks. The two names Ohio State’s tackles will see all afternoon are Stephen Daley and Tobi Osunsanmi.
Daley was one of the stars of last year’s title game, and he’s back for a fifth season after a court ruling restored his eligibility. He has five sacks and six tackles for loss this season, and he usually lines up on the left side of Indiana’s defense. That means right across from Ohio State’s right tackle.
Osunsanmi is the new piece. The Kansas State transfer leads the Big Ten with 9.5 tackles for loss and also has five sacks. Daley, Osunsanmi and Oregon’s Matayo Uiagalelei are tied for the Big Ten lead.
Inside, Mario Landino and Tyrique Tucker are both back from last year’s starting front, so Ohio State can’t just slide its protection to the edges and hope for the best. Indiana doesn’t need to blitz to get home. They win with four, and that’s what makes this matchup so dangerous.
Ohio State’s line is finally getting healthy, maybe
Ohio State’s line has been in flux since the Texas game.
Right tackle Phillip Daniels was hurt late in that loss and has missed four straight games. Austin Siereveld, the leader of the group, slid from right guard to right tackle in his place and played every snap against Iowa. Then Siereveld was ruled out just hours before the Maryland game with a non-football illness.
Left tackle has been the one constant. Ian Moore, an Indiana native from New Palestine, has started every game at left tackle and played all 70 snaps against Maryland. Against the Terrapins, Gabe VanSickle had to move from right guard to right tackle for the first time, and Jake Cook stepped in at guard.
Day called it a “tough ask” for VanSickle and said he did “a lot of good” but wasn’t perfect. Sayin was sacked twice, lost a fumble on one of them and finished with a career-low 52.6 PFF grade.
The good news is that Daniels is expected back. Day said Tuesday it “looks like we’ll get” him this week, and he was set for a full day of practice. That lets VanSickle move back inside to guard, where he’s been solid. And Siereveld still remains day-to-day.
Even with Daniels back, though, I have some concern. He hasn’t played in over a month, and his first game back will likely come against a likely All-Big Ten edge rusher in Daley, on the road, in one of the loudest environments Ohio State will see all year.
Through six games, the Buckeyes have allowed 11 sacks, tied for 78th nationally. That’s not a disaster, but it isn’t the kind of protection that wins a game like this on its own.
How Ohio State can help its tackles
Ohio State can’t simply ask Moore and Daniels to win every one-on-one matchup. The Buckeyes have to make Indiana’s pass rush think.
The first answer is the run game. Ohio State just ran for 207 yards against Maryland, and Bo Jackson had the team’s first 100-yard game of the season. If the Buckeyes can stay on schedule with first-down runs, it keeps Indiana from teeing off on third-and-long. That’s exactly the situation that sank the Buckeyes last December.
The second answer is Sayin’s legs. Since Day challenged him before the Illinois game, Sayin has been more willing to scramble when the pocket breaks down. Indiana’s edge rushers are aggressive, and a quarterback who can step up and pick up eight yards when the ends rush upfield makes that aggression risky.
Sayin doesn’t need to run 10 times. He just needs to make Indiana pay once or twice.
The third answer is getting the ball out quickly. Smith can win at the line of scrimmage, and quick throws, screens and chips from the running backs and tight ends can take some pressure off the tackles.
Ohio State’s defense has to get after Josh Hoover. Just as important, the offensive line has to keep Julian Sayin upright. Give Sayin a clean pocket, and Jeremiah Smith and a run game that’s finally found its footing can beat anyone.
If Daley and Osunsanmi live in the backfield again, none of that will matter, and Bloomington could look a lot like Indianapolis did last December.
