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Ohio State's biggest loss against the No. 2 Oregon Ducks (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten Conference) perhaps was not the one that showed on the scoreboard. Starting left tackle Josh Simmons suffered an injury in the second quarter of the game on Oct. 12. Head coach Ryan Day stated in his postgame press conference that the injury did appear to be season-ending.
The injury was a non-contact one as he slipped on the turf and came down grasping his ankle. Simmons immediately realized something was very wrong and was carted off of the field. Backup tackle Zen Michalski filled his spot for the remainder of the game. His play did not appear to be a glaring problem for the No. 4 Buckeyes (5-1, 2-1 B1G), but the question of who will replace Simmons still looms large.
The Importance of Josh Simmons
Simmons came into Columbus, Ohio last year as a transfer from San Diego State. He was solid throughout the year, but still left plenty of room for improvement. He showed how much he had improved early and often this season.
New offensive coordinator Chip Kelly's run game calls for a lot of skill and versatility from his linemen. Simmons proved to be an anchor for the unit from the jump in 2024. Kelly's scheme requires linemen to pull and get out in space to lead block for the running backs. Simmons was constantly being used in this manner and was absolutely excelling in the role. He had been dominant leading the path to open up holes in the run game.
He also seemed to be vastly improved as a pass protector. Quarterback Will Howard was very rarely pressured from the left side as Simmons kept edge rushers away from his new QB. His draft stock was seemingly rising each week as he consistently showed tremendous effort and attention to detail each snap.
Ohio State's Offensive Line Depth
The Buckeyes have stars all over the roster. Backups at nearly every position are top recruits and sometimes even players who have already proven themselves. However, the offensive line is less stacked compared to other position groups on the team. The interior does have solid depth as Carson Hinzman started at center for the majority of last year. The Buckeyes also had a battle for their right guard spot going well into the regular season between Tegra Tshabola and Austin Siereveld. The Buckeyes are much more equipped to handle health issues on the interior. The tackle position is less prepared for this situation. Simmons was perhaps the last player the roster was prepared to replace.
Who Replaces Simmons
Tegra Tshabola
Tshabola currently starts at right guard for the Buckeyes. He did split reps with Siereveld for two games this year before earning the full-time spot. He took some reps at tackle in training camp and does have the size and length to fit the position. Tshabola sliding over could allow for Siereveld to then become the right guard, the spot he was competing for well into the season. Tshabola's outstanding athleticism also helps him as Simmon's abilities were vital at the position. While this all sounds like a solid option on paper, it is important to note that the coaching staff's belief in Tshabola's capability at tackle is still unknown.
Zen Michalski
Michalski is a veteran as a fourth-year player. He has the advantage of being experienced in the system at the left tackle spot. He was not an obvious issue as he was put in a very, very tough spot against Oregon. Coming into that game and being able to hold your own while playing a tough defensive front in the toughest of environments counts for something. There were a few plays where he got beat, but never to the extent of him being a liability. It is entirely possible that with a good two weeks of practice, Michalski will get the start against the Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-1, 2-1 B1G) on Oct. 26.
Josh Fryar
Fryar already starts at the right tackle position. The idea here would be to keep a tackle with experience on the left side to protect Howard's blindside. Then, they could slide Tshabola over to right tackle to keep him on the same side of the line. Siereveld then can move up to start at right guard. This solution is one that entirely depends on whether or not the staff trusts Tshabola more on the left side. They also might prefer to keep him on the right side in order to keep his footwork similar. They may trust Fryar to move over to the left side more.
The Challenges Moving Forward
The importance of chemistry in a group of offensive linemen cannot be overstated. The ability to feel comfortable playing with each other and being able to communicate in a system like Kelly's is integral to the offense's success. They will get a huge test when they face No. 3 Penn State (6-0, 3-0 B1G) on Nov. 2 at Beaver Stadium. Whoever wins the battle for the job will face an enormous challenge playing in one of the harshest environments in all of sports. Ohio State has various issues to address after its tough loss, but the left tackle position may be the most important one of them all.
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