Can C.J. Stroud put Ohio State football on his shoulders in a big game? Hey, Nathan

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Hey, Nathan: Is C.J. Stroud able to placing the group on his again for an enormous win? Most likely forgetting some examples, however I’m afraid that if every part isn’t going proper we may lay a dud once more towards Michigan or a playoff group. — Troy in Cincinnati

Hey, Troy: This got here up on Buckeye Discuss this week once we have been requested to match Stroud and Justin Fields. I introduced up that no matter taking part in kinds and stats, there are two defining moments in Fields’ OSU profession. One is coming again into the Michigan sport after aggravating his knee harm and throwing a landing on the primary snap. The second was the sound he made when sitting down for his postgame interview on the 2020 Sugar Bowl. He was bodily wrecked and emotionally spent and performed the sport of his life.

Stroud continues to be searching for his model of that second – although he has some contenders, too. Ohio State trailed Utah going into the fourth quarter of the Rose Bowl final season. He led two landing drives to take the lead, then one other for the game-winning discipline objective. Trailing Penn State with beneath 10 minutes to play on the highway counts too, although that may clearly be remembered because the “J.T. Tuimoloau” sport.

That is one class of quarterback critique that can not be theoretical. Both you present up when the second materializes otherwise you don’t. I do assume if OSU has the ball down by lower than a landing with beneath two minutes to play, everybody on that group in all probability thinks they’re successful the sport. All of these third- and fourth-down conversions to Marvin Harrison Jr. at Beaver Stadium final week weren’t the ultimate examination, however they have been little pop quizzes, and he largely aced them.

Additionally, don’t be stunned if OSU’s insistence of discovering steadiness with the run sport instantly turns into much less necessary when it’s instantly a one-game season. Once more, I provide the Rose Bowl and a 46-20 cut up between move makes an attempt and carries. Ryan Day needed that sport on the arm of Stroud and the palms and legs of Harrison, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and the receiving corps. If essential, he’ll do it once more. He could even be eagerly awaiting the chance.

Hey, Nathan: With the current struggles within the run sport, I discovered myself questioning if the play calling is completely different for Miyan Williams and TreVeyon Henderson? Miyan doesn’t wrestle to select up yards each time he touches the ball and the identical can’t be stated for Henderson. I perceive they’ve two completely different run kinds, but it surely simply looks as if Miyan will get working holes/lanes that both Henderson is lacking or doesn’t get. If the run performs are completely different for them, wouldn’t it be useful to have them and the offensive line run the identical stuff to be on the identical web page? — Paul in Texas

Hey, Paul: With out going again and dissecting each name — no, OSU doesn’t name the sport all that in another way for both again. This was an enormous matter of dialog again in 2020 with Grasp Teague III and Trey Sermon, who have been equally a stark distinction in kinds. Working backs coach Tony Alford on the time insisted they want no matter again is on the sector to have the ability to do every part they ask. In any other case, an offense turns into too predictable.

I suppose I’ve been among the many Henderson defenders a lot of this season. Nonetheless, I’ve seen what you see. Miyan places his head down and storms forward, and that downhill fashion could be very efficient when OSU’s line clears a path. On a number of events the previous two weeks, Henderson had good motive for his knees to buckle as a result of a lineman was being pushed backward into his path. On others, although, he didn’t take a lane that confirmed up fairly clearly on movie.

At this level, if each are wholesome towards Michigan, OSU will trip the recent hand and lean on whichever again is producing. Williams could merely be the more practical again for what this group wants proper now.

Hey, Nathan: My rest room is sweet, however I want a brand new bathe. How’s your tiling expertise? Additionally, any phrase on how Kyle McCord is progressing in addition to O-line depth/recruiting future? — Robert in Woodsfield, Ohio

Hey, Robert: Sorry, my plumbing specialty is bathrooms. As for McCord, we actually haven’t seen a lot with our personal eyes. That isn’t uncommon — go searching at different prime packages and also you’ll see, barring harm, the backup quarterback doesn’t play a lot.

We all know McCord is placing in work. He took some further reps with the first-string offense over the open week within the schedule when C.J. Stroud acquired a break. We’ve seen him coming in earlier than apply hours to get further time with Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka and others. All of these guys got here in collectively and have been coming in on their very own early within the morning as true freshmen, earlier than the receivers bumped as much as turn out to be sophomore stars.

McCord might want to win the job this coming spring, however could have the higher hand. The additional yr of growth plus his rapport with these receivers ought to matter.

Nothing OSU was going to do with the 2023 recruiting class was going to resolve the attainable offensive line holes subsequent season. We’ve seen the “proper” gamers making progress and establishing themselves with the second string — Zen Michalski at left deal with, Tegra Tshabola at proper guard, and so forth. Whether or not these gamers are nationwide championship caliber subsequent fall is tough to foretell proper now.

Hey, Nathan: Ryan Day has all however admitted that Paris Johnson Jr. and Dawand Jones are gone after this season. Who’re the beginning tackles subsequent yr? I’m involved they’re not presently on this roster. — Luke within the 330

Hey, Luke: Sure, each may return, but it surely appears unlikely. I noticed Johnson within the prime 10 on Mel Kiper Jr.’s huge board and Jones has helped himself significantly.

Justin Frye arrived with two main priorities – repair the recruiting pattern total, but in addition discover an inside resolution to the issue you point out. Michalski and Josh Fryar presently undertaking as these inside options. (I do know we theorized about Donovan Jackson shifting exterior if wanted, however watching him flip right into a wrecking ball when pulling to guide into the second stage makes me assume it’s not price it.)

Nonetheless, OSU has nearly completely dipped into the switch portal to fill rapid holes. So if a top-line deal with shakes free, and he’s additionally a persona match for the roster, I count on OSU to take a protracted look. The potential for that group as a complete subsequent season is just too nice to cross your fingers and hope issues work out.

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