The Ohio State soccer program is one in all a choose few that appear to all the time be within the combine for a School Soccer Playoff berth and that needs to be the case once more in 2023. Regardless of dropping quarterback C.J. Stroud, Ohio State has a nucleus of returning expertise on either side of the ball that ought to have the ability to make a run for some fairly particular issues once more subsequent season.
The truth is, ESPN already has Ohio State as the most effective groups in its projected preseason SP+ Rankings for this fall, simply behind No. 1 Georgia.
However as we’ve seen the final couple of seasons, the group has to provide to its potential to comprehend a few of these lofty objectives which might be all the time part of the equation on the banks of the Olentangy.
ESPN took a take a look at a few of the high contenders for subsequent season and what they have to do so as to get to the School Soccer Playoff, and what was recognized by Adam Rittenberg makes quite a lot of sense.
Right here’s what Rittenberg says the Buckeyes need to do so as to be part of all of the enjoyable once more in 2023:
The protection should begin to grow to be a big-game asset once more, not a legal responsibility, after struggling to comprise Michigan and Georgia in its previous two video games. Coordinator Jim Knowles is getting into his second yr, and his true worth as a playcaller and a tactician needs to be extra on show this fall. Ohio State’s offense will all the time be potent with Ryan Day (and now Brian Hartline) on the controls, although a quarterback change after C.J. Stroud’s exit might create some preliminary turbulence. However the Buckeyes received’t get previous Michigan on the highway — or maybe Penn State and Notre Dame — in the event that they don’t begin limiting massive performs and making extra of their very own. There’s sufficient expertise in all three ranges of the protection — J.T. Tuimoloau, Tyleik Williams and Jack Sawyer up entrance; Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers within the center; and Denzel Burke and Lathan Ransom within the secondary — to keep away from the breakdowns that confirmed up in opposition to Michigan and Georgia. Transfers reminiscent of Ja’Had Carter ought to assist with general depth.
We couldn’t agree extra. What has been holding Ohio State again the final couple of years — at the very least from beating Michigan, successful the Large Ten, and a nationwide title, has been the Buckeyes’ lack of ability in massive video games to cease offenses. OSU’s personal offense continues to be one of many tops within the nation underneath Ryan Day, and till the protection can come round underneath Jim Knowles to tug its weight, there’ll all the time be disappointment when taking over the higher groups.
There was tangible, marked enchancment in yr one underneath Knowles, however it has to proceed to get higher, particularly within the massive play division. With the returning manufacturing on protection, there’s no cause to not consider yr two might be even higher with Knowles working the present.
It needs to be for OSU to run the gauntlet of at Notre Dame, vs. Penn State, at Wisconsin, and at Michigan.
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