Three Things the Buckeyes Must Do For a Playoff Run

Ohio State enters the second half of the season with a new quarterback situation, questions along the offensive line, and very little margin for error.

On this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr break down the three biggest factors that will determine how far the Buckeyes can go the rest of the way.

It starts at quarterback. Whether Luke Fahey or Tavien St. Clair ultimately gets the job, Ohio State needs enough production from the position to keep the offense dangerous without asking a young quarterback to do too much.

From there, Tony and Tom discuss the importance of the offensive line getting healthy and playing its best football, the need to establish a dependable running game, and why simply staying healthy could be one of the biggest determining factors of the entire season.

0:00 — Three things that will decide Ohio State’s season
1:18 — No. 1: Quarterback play
2:19 — How different will the offense look?
3:31 — The little things that change with a new quarterback
5:10 — Ohio State can’t hide its young quarterback
5:55 — No. 2: The offensive line
7:43 — How the line can make life easier for Luke Fahey
9:15 — The running game becomes even more important
9:50 — No. 3: Staying healthy
10:35 — Can Ja'Kobi Jackson return?
11:30 — Why Ohio State’s cornerback depth matters
12:05 — The defense may need to create more points
13:02 — Why special teams could become more aggressive
14:00 — Which three factors matter most?

Ohio State’s offensive line could be especially important. If Austin Siereveld returns and the Buckeyes can settle on their best five, improved pass protection and a stronger running game could take significant pressure off a first-year starting quarterback.

Health will also be critical. Ohio State has already dealt with major injuries at quarterback, offensive line, running back and elsewhere, and additional losses could expose depth issues at several positions.

And with the offense potentially needing time to adjust, the defense and special teams may have to provide more than just stops. Turnovers, short fields, punt returns and even defensive scores could become an important part of Ohio State’s formula down the stretch.

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