12:02 PM ET COLUMBUS, Ohio — The number of returning starters on the Ohio State offensive line isn’t going to get any bigger, but pinning down an exact value on those two guys depends somewhat on the perspective. For the optimist, the Buckeyes have something of a luxury with a pair of proven, productive performers who also have the leadership skills necessary to help bring along a handful of talented but inexperienced blockers. The pessimist could point to the fact that while the Buckeyes will be stout up the middle with Pat Elflein at center, both tackles have to be replaced and so far in spring they’ve been tinkering trying to fill the other remaining spot at guard opposite Billy Price. Center Pat Elflein will anchor an Ohio State offensive line that will be grooming three new starters this offseason. Mark J. Rebilas/USA Today SportsThe reality is Ohio State is probably somewhere in the middle of that spectrum. The Buckeyes are confident in the veterans, encouraged by the progress of some formerly touted recruits — but also aware that they may need practices like the one Saturday with Price and Elflein both held out of a scrimmage in order to build some depth just in case the number of returning starters happens to shrink. “I think that [biggest concern] has shifted to the offensive line now,” Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said.” We’re still trying to find that starting five. And whoever plays that position, we can’t drop off. “We’re not going to drop off.” The Buckeyes have set the bar extremely high in the trenches since Meyer arrived, and heading into his fifth season maintaining that standard isn’t going to be easy as he breaks in some untested options at crucial positions. Ohio State has been through this sort of transition before with Meyer, and there were undoubtedly some growing pains early in 2014 with four first-time starters struggling in September and getting manhandled in a home loss to Virginia Tech. But by the end of that season, the Buckeyes had obviously grown up quickly as they developed into one of the most tenacious units in the country on the way to the national title…
Continue Reading: Offensive line on top of Urban Meyer’s priority list: ‘We can’t drop off’
