As Ohio State began its title defense last August, they did so with the thought of a more complete, balanced offense in mind.
Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett were back-and-forth at quarterback but running back set with All-American candidate Ezekiel Elliott ready for a big junior year and the wide receiver group had a number of players poised to breakout and provide consistency in the passing game as well as the backbreaking, game-defining "splash" plays that Devin Smith made commonplace in his time with the Buckeyes.
Things changed.
Sophomore Noah Brown, tabbed by most – thanks to regular praise from his coaches and teammates – as the breakout star in the group, broke his leg two weeks before the start of the season. As one of Zach Smith's only true wide receivers, Brown's loss meant that hybrids like Braxton Miller (making the move from quarterback), Jalin Marshall (a former high school quarterback), Curtis Samuel (a high school running back) and Dontre Wilson (a high school running back) would be forced to step up in his stead. Brown's injury would change how the offense would run, not just in the passing game but also for Elliott and the run game: Brown is also a devastating run-blocker.
The offense was redesigned with Cardale Jones' skill-set in mind and his game was not predicated on pop passes and screens. His strength, the vertical passing game, took another hit when Florida speedster Johnnie Dixon's knee issues re-emerged early in the year. Corey Smith, the last real vertical threat, broke his leg in Bloomington on October 3rd. Dontre Wilson, who suffered a broken foot against Michigan State in 2014, suffered setback after setback. Parris Campbell hurt his knee and missed almost the entire season, finishing with zero catches.
Injury upon injury to the wide receivers changed Cardale Jones and it changed the Buckeyes offense. J.T. Barrett was inserted as the starter at the end of October because of the run threat that he added in the read-option game and the Buckeyes (save for November 21st) got back to what carried them to the 2015 national title: feeding Zeke.
Unfortunately, this spring saw more of the same for the Buckeyes' offensive staff. Still sidelined by Injuries, Noah Brown and Corey Smith missed the spring. Dontre Wilson's foot slowed him to a crawl. Curtis Samuel broke his foot and missed the spring. Johnnie Dixon's knee issues prevented him from doing anything but running fly patterns. Redshirt freshman KJ Hill broke his wrist and couldn't do much, donning a black non-contact jersey throughout spring football.
The lack of a veteran presence allowed true freshman and early-enrollee Austin Mack to step into the spotlight and he blew away expectations. Former high school quarterback-turned-wide receiver Torrance Gibson began to fully-develop into a member of Zone Six, taking advantage of the extra reps he'd received as others sat out. Another redshirt freshman, Terry McLaurin, showed a flare for the dramatic when he was called upon in April's spring game, reeling in two long passes including a 47-yard touchdown.
Could this spring's injury issues evolve into the season's most important storyline?
Following Ohio State's Fiesta Bowl win against Notre Dame, Urban Meyer let it be known that 2016's plan will – as 2015's was meant to – include more passing.
“I want more of a balance, like we were in 2014,” Meyer said. “We need to throw the ball. J.T. threw it 31 times (in the Fiesta Bowl). That's more what I'm looking for...very balanced. Nowadays, you have to do that. We have too good of skilled athletes. Today's game was a little more conducive of what we're trying to be."
To use those skilled athletes, they have to be healthy, and as of right now, everyone is on track to return to full-speed by the time the start of fall camp. With a challenging schedule that includes four daunting road matchups (Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Penn State and Michigan State) and 16 starters from that Fiesta Bowl to replace, for Barrett and the Buckeyes to hit their goals, someone will have to step up.
Noah Brown will be back. Corey Smith will be back, as will Johnnie Dixon, Dontre Wilson, Curtis Samuel and Parris Campbell. K.J. HIll, Austin Mack and Torrance Gibson are spectacular yet unproven talents and young guys like Terry McLaurin and another incoming freshman Binjimen Victor, are eager to show they belong on the big stage.
Someone will have to step up. Who will it be? There's no shortage of options and there's no shortage of confidence.
"We've got a lot of guys who can come in and do the job," McLaurin said following the spring game. "The pressure is definitely on."
