After taking an optimistic approach last week in presenting five things I hope to see happen on the field this fall, today I'm taking the opposite slant and calling out the areas that cause me the most concern as the Buckeyes look to remain a playoff-caliber team despite the need to replace all but six non-specialty starters.
As noted last week, I don't see the 2016 squad losing more than two games – and faring better than that wouldn't shock me in the slightest – but if the Buckeyes are going to have a slip up or two, any of these items below could very well sit front and center in the unfortunate exercise of conducting a post-loss review.
MEDIOCRE IN THE MIDDLE?
With Joey Bosa going to San Diego with the 3rd pick of the NFL Draft, chatter about Ohio State's defensive line has centered on how the Buckeyes will replace such an elite talent on the edge. Fortunately, Sam Hubbard is poised to for a breakout season in Bosa's absence and with a proven commodity like Tyquan Lewis at the opposite end slot, Larry Johnson's unit is set along the edge.
That said, despite Bosa's talent, the bigger loss could prove to be defensive tackle Adolphus Washington, the 80th pick of the Draft by the Buffalo Bills. Washington's 49 stops, seven tackles for loss, four sacks and four hurries, along with the lesser but still noted loss of interior d-liners in Tommy Schutt and Joel Hale gives the Buckeyes a potentially major gap in the trenches.
Redshirt junior Tracy Sprinkle garnered some love this spring which was great to see as he continues creating distance from his Grown and Sexy days. Seeing snaps in 12 games last year Sprinkle had just four tackles but is a likely starter for the season opener. Can he continue his progression and turn in a season on par with what Washington gave the Buckeyes last year? It's possible but I wouldn't bet on it.
Next to Sprinkle for the opener will likely be fellow redshirt junior Michael Hill. The South Carolina native tallied 12 tackles in 13 games last year but despite injuries to guys like Schutt and Hale, Hill saw minutes but couldn't seize a starting spot.
Behind those two, redshirt freshman Dre'Mont Jones has created the most buzz and while he will undoubtedly be a starter in future years, can he be a big time rotational guy – at worst – this year? The raw talent and hype says maybe but it's far from guaranteed. Finally, fellow redshirt freshman Jashon Cornell and Pickerington product Davon Hamilton also looked good this spring but I sometimes wonder how hard that was to do against a patchwork offensive line that was largely without Pat Elflein and Billy Price.
If Ohio State fails to get solid play from the two interior defensive line spots potentially allowing teams to run the ball up the gut and/or make it harder for guys like Raekwon McMillan to find lanes to ball carriers, it could be a recipe for defeat against a legit team.
SAFETY PATROL
Though I was admittedly never bullish on Tyvis Powell, the man was serviceable at worst and was complemented by one of the truly elite OSU safeties in my lifetime in Vonn Bell. How big of a loss are we talking about now that these guys are looking to make their mark in the NFL? The duo combined for 370 career tackles, 17 interceptions and 77 games worth of experience and leadership.
Now, Meyer must find two new guys worthy of the trust that comes with being the last line of defense for a championship caliber team.
Not only that, with the departure of Chris Ash the Silver Bullets must adjust to the teachings of Greg Schiano along the back line. Like the majority of you, I have full confidence in Schiano but the fact remains it's another change impacting the secondary.
The good news is the apparent spring emergence of redshirt sophomore Malik Hooker. The versatile athlete out of Pennsylvania did enough to earn a starting nod heading into fall camp and while he could be a star in the making, I've seen enough spring game stars fizzle in the fall to keep my optimism slightly in check.
The bigger issue however could be whether or not Schiano can find a consistent guy to play alongside Hooker.
Injuries add to the concerns here as a talented guy in Erick Smith continues his recovery from an ACL tear and while Cam Burrows doesn't seem to be on the same talent level as Smith, he has more experience despite recovering from his own injury woes.
With all the injuries, former corner and nickel back Damon Webb switched to safety and did enough to earn the starting job opposite Hooker heading into fall camp. Webb was a highly touted guy as a corner out of Detroit Cass Tech in 2014 but has yet to live up to his billing though an off field issue cost him a month and a half of games last season.
It is my hope Hooker and Webb can evolve into a playmaking security blanket for the defense but their resumes are far more hype than substance at this point and while I haven't done much digging to determine if this is truly odd or not, I struggle with the notion a supposed lockdown corner is presumably better suited for a safety role even as the Buckeyes have a major question mark at corner opposite Gareon Conley. Regardless, could the inexperience of Hooker and Webb allow a couple big plays that turn out to bite the Buckeyes in a surprising defeat?
WALK THE LINE
One of the biggest differences in the Ohio State program since Meyer arrived is how the offensive and defensive lines have been areas of strength instead of potential liabilities to overcome against truly elite foes.
This year, the Buckeyes return a pair of starters in Billy Price (right guard) and Pat Elflein (center) but must find replacements for Taylor Decker, Jacoby Boren and Chase Farris and like the secondary, do it while a new position coach, Greg Studrawa, injects himself into the fray.
It looks like junior Jamarco Jones has a solid hold on the left tackle spot and while he looks the part, protecting J.T. Barrett will be of paramount importance considering there's zero proven depth behind him. In between Jones and Elflein, true freshman Michael Jordan won the spring battle for the left guard spot though redshirt sophomore Demetrius Knox should be a factor since he's projected to be fully healthy come fall camp. If Jordan, an early enrollee, holds down the spot, is that something to celebrate or cause for concern considering all the other blue chips with more time in the program?
Finally, at right tackle sophomore Isaiah Prince left spring camp as the starter but with juco transfer Malcolm Pridgeon on the way, there's an expectation the 6'8", 308 pounder out of Nassau (NY) Community College will make a bid for playing time.
The good news is Meyer and company have successfully cobbled together inexperienced offensive lines including the 2014 group that was eventually dominant. The bad news is they'll have to do it again and even in 2014, that group turned heads for all the wrong reasons in an early season loss to Virginia Tech before it eventually blossomed.
Can the 2016 offensive line be retooled and show continuous improvement throughout the season in a way that doesn't contribute to a loss or two? With Meyer, all things are possible but only a homer would say it's an absolute certainty that the group will be dominant from game one.
So there you have it – three areas causing heightened angst as I try to keep the most scarlet-colored glasses firmly atop the bridge of my beak. Now comes the part where most of you flame me for daring to imply the Buckeyes have some major holes to fill and that doing so could come with a varied levels of heartburn.
