Ohio State’s Offensive Success Against Virginia Tech Could Largely Hinge on Receivers Who Have Never Played Before

By Tim Shoemaker on September 6, 2015 at 6:00 am
Johnnie Dixon.
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Following last season’s 35-21 loss to Virginia Tech, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer all but called out one of his position groups during his press conference the following Monday for not performing up to the standard he had hoped.

“I thought we had improved at wide receiver, and we just didn’t get open enough,” Meyer said last Sept. 8. “They made a decision to take away the tailbacks and there were nine guys within six yards of the line of scrimmage, and you have to make someone pay a price and come up with some of those catches.”

The Buckeyes’ wideouts underperformed against the Hokies on that September night. They had one-on-one coverage for the majority of the night, and with the exception of Michael Thomas (six catches for 98 yards and a touchdown), were almost nonexistent.

Should the Hokies try a similar game plan again this year against Ohio State — one that will try and limit running back Ezekiel Elliott — it will be up to the wide receivers again to be gamebreakers.

The only problem with that? Outside of Thomas, none of them have played before.

The Buckeyes are without Jalin Marshall, Corey Smith and Dontre Wilson for this game due to a one-game suspension. Noah Brown, the rising sophomore who was pegged to be the starter opposite Thomas, was lost for the season with a fractured leg in fall camp.

What Ohio State is left with is a batch of talented, but unproven wideouts who will be challenged quite early in their careers against one of the nation’s top secondaries.

Johnnie Dixon, Terry McLaurin, Parris Campbell and James Clark appear to be the four who will rotate in at spots out wide with Thomas playing the majority of the snaps at one spot. True freshmen Torrance Gibson and K.J. Hill have also earned some praise from Meyer, but it’s hard to see them being thrown into the fire in Week 1. The number of career catches that group of six guys has is zero.

“Depth at receiver is a concern for this game. Talent isn't.”– Urban Meyer

The Buckeyes do have a pair of guys at the H-receiver spot — Braxton Miller and Curtis Samuel — who actually have game experience, but neither have played H in a game before. They also have a game-ready tight end in Nick Vannett, who could have a large role in this game.

But as far as receivers go, it's Thomas and then a bunch of other guys.

“Depth at receiver is a concern for this game. Talent isn’t,” Meyer said. “Those are all guys that can play at this level and potentially some of them at the next level.”

There’s a lot of pressure on those wide receivers to perform, especially with what happened at the position last year in this game. The task now for Meyer, offensive coordinator Ed Warinner and wide receivers coach Zach Smith is getting the group ready to play in a hostile environment like Lane Stadium.

“Attention to detail and taking care of themselves,” Meyer said. “We really watch closely their body weights, their hydration, how you handle yourself as a pro.”

Ohio State will need its receivers to make plays if it wants to beat Virginia Tech. If it’s just Thomas again making plays, that may not be enough.

There’s talent, but that talent is largely unproven. If it winds up proving itself, that may make the difference in the game.

“A lot of motivation,” Thomas said. “We’ve been preparing well and getting ready, sticking to the game plan. We know a lot of guys are going to have to go out there and step up.”

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