Ohio State football: How will the offensive line shake out?
by Doug Lesmerises Monday September 29, 2008, 1:39 PM
D.L.Freshman Mike Brewster is still listed first on the depth chart at center.
The depth chart released by Ohio State this afternoon offers some vague answers as to the future of the offensive line. One point - Mike Brewster's elevation to starting center was more than an injury stopgap.
Left guard Steve Rehring could return for Saturday's game at Wisconsin after sitting out the last two games with a left foot injury. On the depth chart, Rehring is listed second behind Jim Cordle at left guard, but they appear basically as co-starters.
At center, the same is true. Brewster is listed first, with Cordle next, but the indication, with both names in bold and all caps, is that they are co-starters.
I could see the Buckeyes running out different line combinations, but at the same time, shuffling the line might not be a great idea in a game as tough as this one in Madison should be.
Tressel said before the Minnesota game that he'd be gathering more data before making a decision, but that decision may not be made yet.
One thing that I thought was a possibility that is not indicated is someone moving right guard Ben Person aside. Cordle should have little problem playing right guard as a well as left, so he could have been a candidate there, but Connor Smith and Josh Kerr are listed as the backups behind Person.
Also, freshman J.B. Shugarts continues to be listed as third team at right tackle even though he played at least two series there late Saturday, with starting tackle Bryant Browning moving to right guard. That's still a position where I think movement is possible.
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