Ohio State’s offensive line has been a good unit all season. Flawless? No. But by any measure, definitely good.
However, the Buckeyes saved their best performance of the regular season for OSU’s 27-9 win at Michigan on Saturday. Left tackle Austin Siereveld, left guard Luke Montgomery, center Carson Hinzman, right guard Tegra Tshabola and right tackle Phillip Daniels controlled the line of scrimmage for the vast majority of the afternoon.
Bucknuts asked head coach Ryan Day on Tuesday if he agrees it was the best performance from his O-line so far this year and how he felt about the group overall.
“Yeah, and that was the goal of really the lead up to the regular season, was to be playing our best football at the end of the year,” Day said. “Certainly in the rivalry game, and then into these game here and moving forward. So, I think they did that, and I think you guys can see that on film. Whether you’re grading the same way as Tyler Bowen or not is another story. But you guys saw the way they played, and I mean, that’s their capability. Right now, it’s like getting an A in algebra, you know what I mean? That’s what we expect out of them, but just a tremendous effort.
“There’s so much work that goes with the offensive line, and I don’t think anybody realizes how much time and effort that goes into the organization, to the walkthroughs, to the individual work, to the communication. I mean, there’s just so much that goes with it. And to see them play the way they did in that game with the confidence, execution, and physicality says a lot about that room and where it’s at.”
The offensive line was also a big reason true freshman Bo Jackson shined against the Wolverines. Also a big reason? Well, that would be the fact that Jackson is one heck of a good running back. The 6-foot, 217-pound Cleveland native rushed 22 times for 117 yards (5.3 yards per carry) and added four receptions for 49 yards (12.5 yards per catch). Therefore, Jackson’s 166 yards from scrimmage were more yards than Michigan’s offense mustered the entire game (163). You know the old saying, “If your team’s starting running back has more yards than the entire other team, you will win the football game.” (OK, perhaps that’s a new phrase, but we’re rolling with it.)
“Yeah, and he played his most snaps of the season,” Day said. “I think that was probably the most telling part of all of it. I thought he had a really big, explosive run for us early in the game. And that was big. I know that we’ve all been working on that. And for that to show up late in the season the way it did, you start to see him really grow into the role. He also picked up some guys in protection. I’m sure you saw that.
“But to me, it was the workload that he was able to manage in that game and handle in that game. Graded out a champion. And so, hats off to (RB coach Carlos) Locklyn and to Bo and that whole room. Because again, it’s a build up towards that game. But it’s everybody in the room. Because Bo probably wouldn’t have been able to do that if he didn’t have the other guys in the room. It’s been a group effort in that room. And it’s going to continue to be. But in that moment, he sort of had the hot hand.”
Keep it locked to Bucknuts for full coverage of Ohio State football, including Wednesday’s signing day and Saturday’s Big Ten Championship Game.
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