Ohio State takeaways: Why Ryan Day hasn't named a QB yet, plus optimism grows on both lines

New York Times

21 hours ago

Fresh off its first scrimmage, Ohio State is entering a crucial part of preseason camp.
The second full week is when most teams get to their final evaluations before setting a preliminary preseason depth chart, and that's no different for the Buckeyes, who will open the season ranked No. 3 in the AP poll against No. 1 Texas on Aug. 30.
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On Monday, coach Ryan Day said he expects to set the first depth chart at the end of this week, but there are still some battles that need to be worked out. Though reporters haven't had a chance to watch practice since Aug. 2, there have been some developments worth updating.
Here's what we've been hearing in the past week:
There's not a lot of news on the quarterback front other than that the competition hasn't been decided, which shouldn't come as a surprise.
It seems that some fans want Day to come out and name a quarterback already, much like Alabama did by naming Ty Simpson its starter, but what the Buckeyes are doing is understandable. Ohio State is working with two inexperienced quarterbacks, neither of whom has made a start yet. Lincoln Kienholz played in the 2023 Cotton Bowl loss, but that was a long enough time ago that it feels irrelevant. He didn't throw a pass last year, while Sayin had just 12 attempts as the third-stringer.
Because of the inexperience, Ohio State would benefit from getting each player as many reps as possible in the first half of camp, and that's what it is doing right now. Kienholz and Sayin are splitting reps again this week.
'We are trying to get both guys ready to go win the game,' Day said. 'I think we have to have them both ready to play in that first game, and as we get closer we'll name a starter and go from there, but we need them both and that's the goal right now.'
I think it's fair to say that Sayin holds a lead, but they're also two different quarterbacks.
Sayin has shown better arm talent, and Day continues to praise him for his decision-making. The key for him is moving the offense down the field consistently. He did a nice job of that in the spring game, but can he duplicate it week after week once the season begins? That's the question. If you're a coach and you still have that question on Aug 11, then it doesn't matter what the arm talent looks like, the competition has to go on into the next scrimmage at least.
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That's not to say Kienholz hasn't shown off his arm, either. He's the better athlete of the two and that's where his strength is. He's been in command of the offense this summer and physically looks much different. Being named an 'Iron Buckeye' is no small matter, either.
But we're past the conservations about the offseason, improved mechanics and who is looking comfortable in the offense. Those are opening-week conversations. It's now going to come down to who can consistently move the offense down the field.
I wouldn't be surprised if Day ends the quarterback battle when he speaks next week and names Sayin the starter. Then again, I wouldn't be surprised if it stretches into game week before Texas visits, either.
To name a starter right now would've been too early, given the state of the competition throughout the offseason. This will all work itself out, and from what the staff and people around the program have said, this isn't a competition between two average quarterbacks playing it out. There's talent and upside to consider with both players.
For those who have been reading all offseason, you've probably heard about how much Austin Siereveld has impressed the staff. He entered camp as a surefire starter, in my eyes, but I expected him to be at right tackle.
Now, in the second week, he's working exclusively at left tackle. That's a major development because many assumed that Rice transfer Ethan Onianwa, who was the No. 6 senior tackle in Dane Brugler's preseason NFL Draft rankings, would take over at left tackle. Onianwa looks the part and even dropped more than 20 pounds during offseason workouts.
But Siereveld has become the name to watch. His offseason development is a major boost to an offensive line that was already deep coming into the preseason. Now, it's even better.
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If camp ended today, Ohio State would likely run out against Texas with the lineup of Siereveld at left tackle, Luke Montgomery at left guard, Carson Hinzman at center, Tegra Tshabola at right guard and either Onianwa or Minnesota transfer Phillip Daniels at right tackle.
Daniels has gone from rotational player to potential starter after a good scrimmage on Saturday. Offensive line coach Tyler Bowen raved about his 'mean streak,' and when he talks you can understand why.
'When you are beating on people, they don't like to get beat on,' Daniels said. 'That's when they react and we are going to scuffle. Me not reacting, I'm going to start winning more. I'm just here to get my job done and sometimes you have to get dirty.'
This tackle group is so talented that Ohio State is even working Onianwa at guard a bit as it tries to give its players secondary and primary targets. This is a deep unit when you begin referring to a potential Day 2 NFL Draft pick as a 'swing player.'
That's not to say Onianwa won't start; it's just reality for Bowen's group right now: He has to mix and match and find the best five in the next week or two.
Bowen hasn't gone into how many players deep he feels like he can go, but realistically this feels like the deepest Ohio State offensive line in a few years and it should continue to rotate throughout the season.
This is a major development and one that could make a huge impact with a first-time starting running back and quarterback lined up in the backfield.
Coming into camp, one of the major position concerns was defensive tackle. Those concerns grew when Eddrick Houston went down on the first day with an injury, though it turned out to not be serious.
Since then, reviews have been that the defensive tackles have been stellar, especially Kayden McDonald.
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For much of the offseason, I thought McDonald would turn into a star, and it sounds like he's playing like it in camp. Running back James Peoples has raved about him, along with just about anybody else you ask.
For as much criticism as Larry Johnson gets on the recruiting trail, he really does a great job of developing tackles. The last three, Tyleik Williams, Ty Hamilton and Michael Hall Jr., were all draft picks. McDonald sounds like he's working his way into one as well.
If that's the case, Ohio State is going to have a duo of Houston and McDonald that should give defenses headaches. Ohio State can live with 15 snaps a game from Jason Moore, Tywone Malone and/or Will Smith Jr.
There's been optimism about that depth as well. Tshabola said that all of the defensive tackles bring a different skill set when they are in, and center Josh Padilla raved about Smith after practice on Tuesday.
'Will has taken great strides this year,' Padilla said. 'I feel like he's a whole different player.'
Still, Day said on Monday he wants to see more.
'We say all the time, you're either a pro or a player,' Day said. 'If you're a player it means you can do some things but you're inconsistent. A pro does it the same way every single time and that's the challenge. We've seen guys flash, but we need more consistency.'
At the midway point of the preseason, I tend to side with the belief that my biggest concern, the defensive line, isn't as big of a deal as I once thought and that Johnson will be able to put a strong rotation together despite losing all four starters to the NFL.
We still need to see this group in a game setting together, so I still worry slightly about the tackle depth in a long season, but the talent is obvious in the starting group.
(Photo of Julian Sayin: Adam Cairns / Columbus Dispatch / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
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