COLUMBUS, Ohio — A closer look at players and positions that will be critical for No. 4 Ohio State as it tries to extend its winning streak under Urban Meyer to 15 games on Saturday at California.
Kenny Guiton
The health of Braxton Miller has been under the microscope all week long since he left on the opening drive of Ohio State’s easy win last week, and while his sprained knee has responded well and the junior will be on the plane heading west, it’s a safe bet his backup once again will be seeing some action.
The Buckeyes might not know exactly how much they’ll need Guiton until shortly before kickoff, but even if Miller is in solid enough shape to start, Meyer might well play it safe and get his reliable reliever off the bench to share the load at times anyway — particularly if the spread attack is able to get an early lead against a suspect Cal defense.
Joey Bosa
Perhaps overlooked with the spotlight shining so brightly on Miller’s knee is the fact Ohio State is dealing with another injury concern on the other side of the ball, and the groin problem for defensive end Adolphus Washington actually might be a more pressing issue. Considering the youth in the front seven for the Buckeyes and Cal’s uptempo, aggressive style with the football, removing Washington from the lineup could be a significant blow up front.
True freshman Joey Bosa has played himself into position for a potential start and has drawn rave reviews for his athleticism and smooth transition to life in major college football, and the Buckeyes might wind up counting on him to back up all that talk in a pressurized situation.
Continue reading this article at ESPN: Four downs: Buckeyes to watch at Cal
