Ohio State’s right tackle situation is already under the microscope, and Phillip Daniels has apparently been given little room to breathe heading into Saturday’s showdown with Texas.
On the Buckeye Talk podcast, one of the clearest warning signs came from Stephen Means, who said, “Philip Daniels is starting, but he’s on a short leash.” That’s the kind of line that tells you exactly where the pressure sits entering Week 2: Daniels may need a big outing in Austin to hold onto the job on the right side.
The concern doesn’t stop there. Means’s co-hosts, Andrew Gillis and Stefan Krajisnik, pointed to interior offensive linemen Joshua Padilla and Gabe VanSickle as players who could start losing snaps if their play doesn’t pick up. Padilla, in particular, didn’t get any guard work against Ball State and was limited to snaps at center.
That’s a problem for a group that was supposed to be one of Ohio State’s strengths. Instead, after one week against a MAC opponent that was outscored by 53 points, the line already looks shaky enough to raise real questions about whether the depth was oversold.
Ryan Day’s comments after Week 1 only added fuel to that concern. He said he wasn’t happy with the run game early against the Cardinals, and that’s been taken as a sign that the Buckeyes may not be as sturdy up front as expected. Day did, however, acknowledge the flexibility in the room.
The bigger issue is that Ohio State has returning experience on the offensive line, so the usual “growing together” excuse doesn’t really fit here. This isn’t a brand-new group trying to learn on the fly. It’s a veteran unit that is supposed to be further along than this, especially with first-year offensive coordinator Arthur Smith trying to get the run game moving.
Now comes the real test.
Texas brings a defense that doesn’t offer any easy spots, and its front looks especially dangerous. Will linebacker Rasheem Biles and Jack hybrid EDGE/linebacker Colin Simmons stand out as the biggest threats to the Buckeyes’ backfield from different angles.
The right side of Ohio State’s line has the most to prove, but the issues aren’t confined there. Austin Siereveld graded out at 65.5 from PFF, Ian Moore posted a 65.4, and left guard Luke Montgomery checked in at 65.8. Those numbers don’t scream disaster, but they also don’t suggest a group ready to bully a top opponent.
The setting only raises the stakes. DKR Stadium should be loud, and a crowd like that can turn small problems into drive-killers fast. Ohio State didn’t get hit with too many penalties from its starters against Ball State, but the margin for error shrinks when the noise picks up and the pre-snap communication gets harder.
If the Buckeyes hold up in the trenches, it would do more than just calm nerves for one week. It would make the rest of the Big Ten picture look a lot friendlier. But if the line struggles again, the questions around this veteran group will only get louder.
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Ohio State Gets Its First Real Title Test At Texas
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With both teams sitting in the AP top four, Saturday at Texas Memorial Stadium already feels like an early measuring stick for the national race. It will also be the third straight season these programs have met, with Ryan Day and Steve Sarkisian again overseeing a matchup that should say plenty about where Ohio State really stands this fall. [Read more 🡒]
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The teams have already crossed paths in a pair of high-stakes games, and Texas coach Steve Sarkisian has framed the rivalry-less rivalry as the kind of test that demands full attention without letting the season get hijacked by the moment. For Ohio State, it is another statement chance on a stage that has already produced some memorable finishes, with Kanus background adding one more layer to a matchup that still feels like it has unfinished business. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Faces An Early Test That Could Expose A Bigger Problem
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The Longhorns have offered enough recent resistance to make this a tougher assignment than the rankings suggest, especially against a Buckeyes offense still trying to settle into its rhythm against elite competition. Ohio State has the talent to answer any challenge, but this game has the feel of one that could hinge on a few crucial plays and leave plenty to debate afterward, which is exactly why it stands out on a slate full of intriguing matchups. [Read more 🡒]