Ohio State has a lot of skill, but putting it all together can be easier said than done. Take September in Columbus for example. (Or, some Buckeye fans might argue, most of the Jim Tressel era for that matter.) After an explosive opening night at Virginia Tech, the Buckeyes spent much of the next two weeks spinning their wheels offensively before getting some traction last week against Western Michigan. That came as a surprise to many because although Ohio State lost former four-star recruits Devin Smith and Evan Spencer at wide receiver and three-star Jeff Heuerman at tight end, they were able to turn to a pool of roughly a dozen receivers who were all at least four-star prospects as well for this season. And stepping in for Heuerman? Two more four-star guys. Of course some of those receivers are true freshmen and two were recruited as quarterbacks, but seniors Michael Thomas and Corey Smith, sophomore Jalin Marshall and junior Dontre Wilson have all played significant snaps in the past. The same is true of senior tight end Nick Vannett. But while the Buckeyes returned a handful of veterans and added another group of talented young players to the mix, head coach Urban Meyer and offensive coordinators Ed Warinner and Tim Beck had plenty more to do before dreaming of having the same type of offense Ohio State enjoyed last season. Because for all the familiar names, many of the players who left had different types of games. A player who is not only fast but can make plays down the field like Smith has yet to emerge, though Marshall and Thomas have provided flashes in differetn ways. Can anyone turn into the type of blocker Spencer was on the edge…
Continue Reading: Ohio State Buckeyes hope new offensive pieces coming together as Big Ten play begins
