Ryan Day provides key injury update that offers Ohio State its best chance to beat Penn State
Injuries are a terrible part of football, and in a perfect world, no athlete would ever suffer an ailment. However, that's not the reality of the sport, and it's next man up even when a star goes down with injury. That's the current situation the Ohio State Buckeyes navigate after left tackle Josh Simmons was […]
Injuries are a terrible part of football, and in a perfect world, no athlete would ever suffer an ailment. However, that's not the reality of the sport, and it's next man up even when a star goes down with injury. That's the current situation the Ohio State Buckeyes navigate after left tackle Josh Simmons was lost for the season with a torn ACL.
Senior backup Zen Michalski suffered an injury during last week's bout with Nebraska, leaving the Buckeyes in an even less familiar territory. Now, about to head to Penn State, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day has offered a key injury update for Michalski.
We'll break down what it means for the Buckeyes' offense.
Day announced, "It's trending that he's [Michalski] not gonna play. We'll keep evaluating it, but we have a pretty good plan moving forward." And just like that, the Buckeyes will pivot to another option at left tackle.
Michalski struggled mightily as a pass blocker in his 149 snaps this season. Earning a PFF grade of 35.9 is as bad as you'll see on the website. While PFF is certainly not the end-all, be-all, Nebraska continually attacked the senior and found success, upending several Ohio State drives with pressure and folded rush attempts.
It's unfair to say an injury is ever good, but Michalski being ruled out will help the Buckeyes look for a better lineup against a tremendous Penn State pass-rush.
The two most realistic solutions include kicking left guard Donovan Jackson to tackle or freshman Deontae Armstrong. If Jackson moves out to tackle, Austin Siereveld or Luke Montgomery would presumably take over at guard.
Armstrong has yet to play in a game, but turning to the future now could also make some sense. The 6-foot-6, 290-pounder from Elyria, Ohio figures to be starting in 2025, and it's not as if Jackson is a proven superstar at the position already.
Either way, Ohio State will need to send help to that side of the field. Penn State's Abdul Carter is one of the best pass rushers in the country, and no single blocker on the Buckeyes will win every snap. Chip blocks, double teams, and misdirection will be needed to slow Carter and his teammate, Dani Dennis-Sutton.
