Zen Michalski is in line to be Ohio State’s starting left tackle following Josh Simmons’ season-ending injury.
During The Ryan Day Show, Ohio State’s head coach said the Buckeyes are planning for Michalski to protect Will Howard’s blind side after Simmons went down with an injury that’s expected to be season-ending in the second quarter of Ohio State’s loss to Oregon.
That said, Day said the Buckeyes will also be preparing several backup plans at the position, including the possibility of moving starting left guard Donovan Jackson or right guard Tegra Tshabola outside.
“We’re gonna go with Zen right now, but we’ll have some backup plans,” Day said. “We always have to have contingency plans in place. But the good news is you got Austin (Siereveld) in there and you got Tegra who’s played some tackle before, you can move Donnie out as well and then you have Luke (Montgomery) ready to roll in at guard.”
While Michalski, who replaced Simmons for the remainder of the Oregon game, received the lowest grade from Pro Football Focus among all players who played at least 10 snaps against the Ducks, Day was complimentary of how Michalski performed in that situation.
“For Zen to come in and play like that should build some confidence for him going forward, and that’s going to be important,” Day said. “We‘re going to need him all season.”
With Michalski moving into the starting lineup, George Fitzpatrick is in line to be Ohio State’s top backup tackle. But it’s not guaranteed he’d be the next man up. Tshabola spent the spring practicing at offensive tackle before moving to guard, so moving him outside could be an option, especially since Austin Siereveld has split time with Tshabola at RG in three of the last four games. Moving Jackson to left tackle and having Siereveld step in at left guard is another option, as Siereveld started the first two games of the season at LG while Jackson was sidelined by injury. Siereveld also took reps at tackle in preseason camp while Simmons was sidelined by an illness, so it’s not out of the question that he could take over at left tackle, too.
Assuming the current plan remains in place through the next week, Michalski will make his first career start when Ohio State hosts Nebraska in its next game on Oct. 26 at Ohio Stadium (Noon, FOX).
