Pat Elflein and Billy Price remember what happened the last time Ohio State had a bit of turnover on its offensive line. They were each part of it, both as new starters back in 2014.
The Buckeyes played an average first game of that season, winning 34-17 against Navy with 420 yards of total offense. But in the second game of the year, Ohio State struggled mightily up front in a 35-21 loss to Virginia Tech. The Buckeyes faced a defense they admittedly weren’t prepared for and surrendered seven sacks, six of which came in the fourth quarter as a result.
Ohio State had four new starters back then up front; it has three new ones this season.
The Buckeyes hope the early-season results from the offensive line are a bit different this time around.
“I think as an older guy, I have to make sure those guys stay calm,” redshirt junior offensive guard Billy Price said Monday. “Probably one of the biggest things when I played Virginia Tech was everything just starts flying so fast and you can’t get control of the situation. … My job is, since I’ve been there, is to just stay calm. You’ve been in practice, you’ve done the reps, you’ve been in many, many situations so let’s prevent the breakdown.”
Price will be Ohio State’s right guard this season while Elflein will play center. Jamarco Jones was named the starting left tackle back in spring practice, and barring any changes in the final week of practice leading up to Saturday’s season-opener against Bowling Green, the Buckeyes will start sophomore Isaiah Prince at right tackle and true freshman Michael Jordan at left guard.
That’s certainly a lot of change — especially when you consider both Elflein and Price each played different positions last season — but co-offensive coordinator and former offensive line coach Ed Warinner said he likes the position Ohio State’s offensive line is in at the moment.
“The offensive line is in a good place,” Warinner said. “I’m really happy about where that group of guys are.”
Added Elflein: “The big stuff, the fundamental and technique stuff that we need to master as an O-line has been pretty good. … It’s just kind of fine tuning it now.”
Both Price and Elflein can offer a unique perspective to the three new starters up front.
Elflein, a fifth-year senior, was thrust into the fire during the 2013 game at Michigan when Marcus Hall was ejected early in the second quarter. Elflein stepped right in and did not miss a beat, then followed up that strong performance with another solid showing one week later against Michigan State in the Big Ten championship game.
Price has started every game up front for the last two seasons after redshirting as a freshman in 2013. It’s his fourth year in the program, but he remembers his first career start.
“Just the speed of the game,” he said. “There wasn’t any defining moments, like a defining hit that just smacked me and I was like, ‘Wow, that really wasn’t pleasant.’ It was just the speed of the game.”
Jones and Prince have at least played inside Ohio Stadium before even though neither has started a game. They’ve at least experienced college football in their brief careers.
As a true freshman, Jordan is yet to do that.
Price was asked Monday if there was any advice he’d give to someone like Jordan. His answer was almost perfect.
“Strap in,” he said.
After all, as someone who was in a similar position just two years ago, he would know.
