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Ryan Day says Ohio State's offensive line determined to improve

On3 imageby:Andrew Graham•11/10/22•

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EVANSTON, IL - NOVEMBER 05: Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) in action during a college football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Northwestern Wildcats on October 8, 2022 at Ryan Field in Evanston, IL. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

In a game where passing wasn’t really a reliable option on offense in whipping winds at Ryan Field on the shores of Lake Michigan, the Ohio State offensive line was expected to exert some dominance over lowly Northwestern. Though the Buckeyes ultimately finished with 207 rushing yards, the performance left a lot to be desired at times.

Head coach Ryan Day knows there isn’t anybody who wants the offensive line to improve more than the five starters. Progression likely won’t be linear, and it’s hard to predict how and when a breakthrough might happen, but Day is confident they’ll get it on the right track.

“Very prideful group. Really a bunch of guys that want to be right, want to do well. And Justin [Frye]’s done a great job building chemistry this year with them. And they — they’re working hard. They are. Nobody wants to play better than they [do],” Day said.

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One of the reasons the Buckeyes finally overcame the Wildcats, 21-7, is that quarterback CJ Stroud — known almost exclusively as a drop back passer — was involved in the run game.

As Northwestern sold out to defend the running back on read option looks, where Stroud has rarely, if ever, kept the ball, Ohio State found a gap to exploit and did.

Stroud finished with 6 carries for 79 yards, including a run of 44 yards. That change of pace was just enough to balance out the hard running of Miyan Williams — 26 carries for 111 yards.

And while the wind and weather made passing that made passing a fools errand — Stroud finished 10-of-26 for 76 yards — isn’t likely to be as extreme again, Ohio State isn’t content with being a team that can’t line up and run it.

I thought they had a good day yesterday, especially the second half of practice. That was really encouraging. But they gotta go put it on the field. And that’s everybody, it’s not just them. And I think everybody wants to be playing their best football right now,” Day said. “… But I know they’re doing everything they can to be playing their best football here in the next couple weeks. And we want to play well on Saturday.”