Michael Citro
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‘What If’ Ohio State has a down year at wide receiver in 2024?
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images
The Buckeyes have had sure things at wideouts for years. The law of averages says at some point the group may underachieve.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about our imagination. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our What If columns here.
It is understandable if it seems like having great wide receivers at Ohio State is a birthright and not simply the product of the incredible work Brian Hartline is doing both on the recruiting trail and on the practice field. For several years, Ohio State’s wide receiver group has papered over some of the quarterback’s mistakes, provided those signal callers with a wider margin of error, and (in most years, anyway) made even third-and-long situations not seem like a big deal.
The law of averages guarantees a down year at some point, even if the recruits continue to be among the nation’s best. Could that year be 2024?
On the surface, 2024 seems like it could be the year for such a blip. Incumbent Emeka Egbuka is an outstanding talent, but he’s coming back from injury and no longer has bigger threats such as Marvin Harrison Jr. and Jaxon Smith-Njigba to take some of the heat off of him.
The most likely starters along with Egbuka are true freshman Jeremiah Smith and second-year man Carnell Tate. While both Smith and Tate figure to have big careers in Columbus (and beyond), there are no guarantees. So, 2024 seems like a year with the potential for it to happen.
But what if it does?
If there was ever a time for the wide receivers to not be elite, 2024 might actually be a great season for it to happen. The Buckeyes are well positioned for it with a pair of quarterbacks with the ability to make plays in the run game and a pair of elite running backs.
Although there has been no announcement yet about a starting quarterback, and Ryan Day may be on record as saying no one has yet claimed the position, I believe he’s got at least a decent idea who is leading the race. It pays not to make that announcement too early in the era of the transfer portal, of course, but for two (or more) guys to be virtually dead even at this point seems unlikely, and if it is the case, it’s more likely that nobody has stepped up than it is that multiple quarterbacks have excelled equally and it’s simply a matter of figuring out which is the better of two elite options.
Will Howard and Devin Brown are the favorites, and it seems like freshman Julian Sayin is a darkhorse candidate. Brown has little experience, but has the advantage of being more entrenched in Ryan Day’s offense. Howard might still be learning the system, but he’s seen a lot more snaps and has had some success running a power five offense.
Both Howard and Brown can augment the Ohio State running game with their feet, so if the wide receivers did fall off in 2024, these are they types of quarterbacks that can have success if the passing game isn’t clicking. Many a college program has had a successful season without an elite passer, as long as the starting quarterback is smart and can get some of the tough yards on their own.
Meanwhile, a quick look in the OSU backfield should scare the daylights out of opposing defenses. TreVeyon Henderson can take virtually any toss or handoff to the end zone from anywhere on the field. His breakaway speed is a known commodity, but what hasn’t been seen yet is what he can do with Chip Kelly’s run schemes. Stable mate Quinshon Judkins can get the tough inside yards, but he too can pop off runs of 10 yards or more on any given play.
With the Buckeyes seemingly poised for success in the run game, it should also help the passing game. Establishing the run will pull more defenders into the box, allowing Egbuka, Smith, and Tate to find holes on intermediate routes or get deep on double moves, which will make life easier for whoever emerges as the starter at quarterback.
All three can get behind the defense and then it’s simply a matter of not overthrowing them. If the defenders fear the deep ball and give too great a cushion, comeback and out routes will be easier for guys like Howard and Brown to complete.
If there is going to be a down year at wide receiver, 2024 seems like a year in which it won’t be a killer if Ohio State is going to have a special year. While I don’t expect a down year, it’s reassuring to know the team is built to withstand one — at least for the upcoming season.
Continue reading...
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images
The Buckeyes have had sure things at wideouts for years. The law of averages says at some point the group may underachieve.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about our imagination. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our What If columns here.
It is understandable if it seems like having great wide receivers at Ohio State is a birthright and not simply the product of the incredible work Brian Hartline is doing both on the recruiting trail and on the practice field. For several years, Ohio State’s wide receiver group has papered over some of the quarterback’s mistakes, provided those signal callers with a wider margin of error, and (in most years, anyway) made even third-and-long situations not seem like a big deal.
The law of averages guarantees a down year at some point, even if the recruits continue to be among the nation’s best. Could that year be 2024?
On the surface, 2024 seems like it could be the year for such a blip. Incumbent Emeka Egbuka is an outstanding talent, but he’s coming back from injury and no longer has bigger threats such as Marvin Harrison Jr. and Jaxon Smith-Njigba to take some of the heat off of him.
The most likely starters along with Egbuka are true freshman Jeremiah Smith and second-year man Carnell Tate. While both Smith and Tate figure to have big careers in Columbus (and beyond), there are no guarantees. So, 2024 seems like a year with the potential for it to happen.
But what if it does?
If there was ever a time for the wide receivers to not be elite, 2024 might actually be a great season for it to happen. The Buckeyes are well positioned for it with a pair of quarterbacks with the ability to make plays in the run game and a pair of elite running backs.
Although there has been no announcement yet about a starting quarterback, and Ryan Day may be on record as saying no one has yet claimed the position, I believe he’s got at least a decent idea who is leading the race. It pays not to make that announcement too early in the era of the transfer portal, of course, but for two (or more) guys to be virtually dead even at this point seems unlikely, and if it is the case, it’s more likely that nobody has stepped up than it is that multiple quarterbacks have excelled equally and it’s simply a matter of figuring out which is the better of two elite options.
Will Howard and Devin Brown are the favorites, and it seems like freshman Julian Sayin is a darkhorse candidate. Brown has little experience, but has the advantage of being more entrenched in Ryan Day’s offense. Howard might still be learning the system, but he’s seen a lot more snaps and has had some success running a power five offense.
Both Howard and Brown can augment the Ohio State running game with their feet, so if the wide receivers did fall off in 2024, these are they types of quarterbacks that can have success if the passing game isn’t clicking. Many a college program has had a successful season without an elite passer, as long as the starting quarterback is smart and can get some of the tough yards on their own.
Meanwhile, a quick look in the OSU backfield should scare the daylights out of opposing defenses. TreVeyon Henderson can take virtually any toss or handoff to the end zone from anywhere on the field. His breakaway speed is a known commodity, but what hasn’t been seen yet is what he can do with Chip Kelly’s run schemes. Stable mate Quinshon Judkins can get the tough inside yards, but he too can pop off runs of 10 yards or more on any given play.
With the Buckeyes seemingly poised for success in the run game, it should also help the passing game. Establishing the run will pull more defenders into the box, allowing Egbuka, Smith, and Tate to find holes on intermediate routes or get deep on double moves, which will make life easier for whoever emerges as the starter at quarterback.
All three can get behind the defense and then it’s simply a matter of not overthrowing them. If the defenders fear the deep ball and give too great a cushion, comeback and out routes will be easier for guys like Howard and Brown to complete.
If there is going to be a down year at wide receiver, 2024 seems like a year in which it won’t be a killer if Ohio State is going to have a special year. While I don’t expect a down year, it’s reassuring to know the team is built to withstand one — at least for the upcoming season.
Continue reading...