Fansided

Ohio State suspensions look worse on paper than on the field

By Jonathan Bass

Sep 27, 2014; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive lineman Joey Bosa (97) celebrates after forcing a turnover that led to a safety by the Cincinnati Bearcats at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 27, 2014; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive lineman Joey Bosa (97) celebrates after forcing a turnover that led to a safety by the Cincinnati Bearcats at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports /
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Ohio State has suspended four players for its season opener.

The Ohio State Buckeyes will be without reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year (and preseason Bednarik Award watch list candidate) Joey Bosa against Virginia Tech, as he was one of four players suspended for the team’s season opener in Blacksburg. Bosa, along with Jalin Marshall, Corey Smith and Dontre Wilson will all miss the game due violations of athletic department policy. As of post, there has been no specification at to what rule(s) the players broke.

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Of the four, Bosa is unquestionably the biggest loss. Last year as a sophomore he led the team in sacks (13 – half a sack shy of the school record) and tackles for loss (21 for 116 yards), and had 55 total tackles from the defensive end position. He was the anchor of what was a top-20 total defense, and is the standout superstar on the defensive side of the ball.

As for the other players, Marshall and Wilson were both explosive receiver/returners for the Buckeyes last year. They totaled 799 combined receiving yards and nine touchdowns through the air. Marshall also notched a touchdown on the ground (along with 145 yards on 25 attempts) and one off a punt return. Factor in Smith’s 255 yards receiving and the Buckeyes are without over 1,000 yards of offense and their Nos. 3-5 receivers from a year ago.

Suffice to say, the Buckeyes will have a lot of talent riding the pine on September 7. So how does this bode for the defending champs? A lot worse on paper than in reality.

It’s easy to look at the names, the opponent and the location, and immediately turn into Chicken Little. After all, Virginia Tech was the only team to have Ohio State’s number last season, and Lane Stadium at night can be a treacherous venue for the opposition. However, this Buckeye’s team is much different than the one that lost to the Hokies in Ohio Stadium Week 2 of last year.

For one, after losing Braxton Miller two weeks before their opener, Urban Meyer and Tom Herman were still cobbling together a new offensive scheme during the early part of last season. While important cogs in the wheel, none of the four players suspended are nearly as important as QB1. They have also left enough of a runway to properly prepare for their absence. Remember, these missing pieces are by the coach’s hand, not an injury sprung upon the team at the last moment.

Moreover, this Ohio State squad now carries championship swagger. They’ve been to the mountaintop and know what it takes to battle through adversity. Last year’s team was one reeling from a stunning Big Ten Championship Game loss to Michigan State, a deflated effort against Clemson in the Orange Bowl and a typically backbreaking injury to its Heisman-caliber quarterback. When Virginia Tech defeated the Buckeyes it toppled a team facing a crisis of conscience; this time it faces a squad brandishing a champion’s armor of invincibility.

The absence of Bosa, Marshall, Smith and Wilson will undoubtedly be noticeable; however in the long run their suspensions will benefit Ohio State. Braxton Miller will get increased reps to offset the hole left by offensive players, and the defensive line can rotate in its bevy of bench talent. The Buckeyes will cultivate depth and experience by necessity.

The game is in no way a given for the Buckeyes, and the suspensions might result in a much closer matchup than previously expected. But as Ohio State proved last year, it’s a team that truly subscribes (and thrives) to the “next man up” philosophy.

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