Practice Report: Buckeyes have needed pieces for dominant defensive line room
COLUMBUS — All the pieces are in place for the Ohio State defensive line.
Now they all must fit in order to reach the ultra-high ceiling it can have. The Buckeyes have five-star players at every spot on the line. They have talent on paper, and they have the depth necessary to be one of the dominant units in the country.
Young players are experienced. Veterans can lead the way. If it all comes together, Ohio State can get back to the standard of defensive line play it needs to get to.
“We know what to expect,” Ohio State senior defensive end Zach Harrison said. “We know when we’re hitting on all cylinders, and we know when we’re not. And it’s not a secret because we all know, so we can be open about it and call each other out. … We know that supposed to look like, as opposed to when I came in, and when they came in, and the majority of the guys who had playing time were the five seniors on a team. None of us had ever played. Now, even the young guys in the room all have valuable game reps.
“We all know what to expect and what it is supposed to look like.”
The room certainly has more experience — and depth — than it had the last couple of seasons, when the defensive line didn’t play up to the Ohio State standard.
That’s the challenge for the Rushmen under Larry Johnson this fall. They have to be better as a unit. Can they be, now that even young players have real game experience? Lettermen Row senior writer Austin Ward is joined by Jeremy Birmingham, Spencer Holbrook and Tim May for a jam-packed discussion about the defensive line for the Buckeyes.
That’s the summary of today’s Practice Report presented by Byers Auto, the best place to buy a new or used car in Central Ohio. Check out the video below or on the Lettermen Row Youtube channel.
