Zen Michalski to Start at Left Tackle with Josh Simmons Out, But Ohio State is Also Preparing Backup Plans

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beserkr29's picture

Tough task taking on the Nebraska front in your first start of the year. We will know how ready he is quickly.

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B07841's picture

I mean better Nebraska at home compared to Penn State on the road.

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PNWBuckeye's picture

Man I hope Zen does well and we don't see any of these contingency plans.  Not that they couldn't work, but going to them would probably mean we just dropped another game or another injury.

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BodyBuilderBandDaddy's picture

Hopefully not from a loss. Lets not even think of it. And it could mean Zen would be struggling during a game. And they make the necessary move. 

This was encouraging to hear because of the amount of options - 

But the good news is you got Austin (Siereveld) in there and you got Tegra who’s played some tackle before, you can move Donnie out as well and then you have Luke (Montgomery) ready to roll in at guard

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PNWBuckeye's picture

True, but we need have this figured out before Penn State.

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BuckinNuts's picture

you came to Ohio State for these opportunities, make the most of it Zen master.  

I will pound you and pound you until you quit - Woody Hayes

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bull1214's picture

The stage is his and that’s why they came here. I’m hopeful.

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BuckeyeBattleCry11's picture

If Austen has played LT why is he not now?

Bbc11

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BucksAndBourbon86's picture

Austin practiced at tackle in camp when everyone else had hand foot and mouth disease. Zen has been practicing at tackle for 4 years. Hopefully he’s ready to step up. Go Bucks!

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Bigmarty's picture

Practicing?  Ole Ole Ole

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bull1214's picture

He came in as an expected guard but got the chance to play tackle and looked promising. Probably still needs a little more time in that spot but he’s likely on that path. If not, he’s shown to be a good option at guard. 

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awlinBrutus's picture

A little more time? I’m afraid he’s all out time, this is his 4th year in the program redshirt sophomore.My first thought is to ask my best lineman,Donovan Jackson,to take one for the team and play out of position and give it a go @ LT.  This situation with the OL will tell us all we need to know about our OL Coach Frye. Maybe Simmons returns for the Big10 championship and OSU wins out, bringing home the Natty. 

MICHIGAN STILL SUCKS

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bull1214's picture

I was answering an above question about Austin Sierevelde playing Tackle. Not Michalski, for him it’s his time to shine or not.

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Horvath22's picture

When Donovan Jackson came to OSU, the coaches said specifically that he was the LT of the future. They also specifically said that he was plugged in at LG because he would be playing LT, and would benefit from playing on the left side. I don't know what happened to those plans? I don't remember who the LT was at the time. I vote for DJ at LT. We have good replacements available for LG.

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OKCBucks's picture

Boner Jams

It WAS a fumble. He took 4 steps.

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OKCBucks's picture

Why the DVs? This is a compilation of the best boner scenes from the Summer of 2003.

It WAS a fumble. He took 4 steps.

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Silver_Bullet's picture

Glad they have a bye week to help them establish some chemistry with that amount of overhaul. 

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Powell Buckeye's picture

I'm feeling very calm and relaxed with Zen in there.

Michigan. lol.

PSA: grayed out comments get read the most. Thanks!

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natlchamps's picture

Sounds like we're shooting from the hip.

MB

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PhillyNut's picture

You shoot with what you have available.

I don't buy one goddam drop of gas in the state of Michigan!

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BurkeBuck's picture

He seems to have held up well against Oregon. I hope we see a lopsided game starting in the first half, and not the usual stumble out of the starting gate after a bye week.  Drives me crazy to see OSU looking lethargic after every bye week.

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HullingerP's picture

His PFF was like 37 lol

Tackle is probably without a doubt the least depth we have on the entire team

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OSU61108's picture

First mistake is using PFF grades...

F*ck Tony Alford
F*ck Roddy Gayle

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Powell Buckeye's picture

feel free to add lanning and harbaugh to your signature line.

Michigan. lol.

PSA: grayed out comments get read the most. Thanks!

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armynurseboy's picture

He did well in Pass Protection, but did you notice the run game dropped off precipitously after Simmons got hurt?  

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The Rill Dill's picture

Yes, because they turtled up and didn’t even try it.

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CaptainPicard2014's picture

It’s amazing how consistently stupid your comments have been since Saturday. They ran it 12 times in the second half on effectively three possessions since the final one had to be all passing. It just wasn’t working

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TurdFurgison's picture

He did not do well in pass pro. Go rewatch the second half. 

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oldebucke's picture

It's pretty obvious that they're pretty convinced that Fitzpatrick is not ready yet, which is understandable. I sure hope that Zen is because I would hate to see 3 players/positions shuffled around at this point of the season.

If you have two people that agree on everything, that only means one of them is not thinking at all.

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WezBuck28's picture

I just want us to come out and look completely dominant and leave no doubt, as Ryan Day suggests..

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JackTatumsAfro's picture

He didn't do bad when he was in there. Do we even have anybody else that could potentially play LT competently besides Zen is the question? I'm drawing a blank. 

~We'll Get Em' Next Year~

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Buxki84's picture

Options are discussed right there in the article.

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BuxLax's picture

I’m not reading no stinkin’ article

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Bucktown 5.7x28's picture

There are things Chip Kelly can do to mitigate the changes on the offensive line. Perhaps some rollout passes or some misdirections (I don’t see much of that anymore since Urban left)  and plays beneficial to a talent drop off perceived with Simmons being out. IOW play designs that out the offense in the best position to succeed. A national title was never going to be easy. Now it’s gonna be an even bigger task to get through the better teams on the schedule. And I am counting the Huskers in there. While the Bucks should roll them, their defense is much improved this year. This isn’t your Scott Lost Nebraska team 

When telling the truth becomes a revolutionary concept, it’s wise to join the revolution 

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Woody 1's picture

Finding an adequate to good replacement for LT is their biggest challenge from here on out. Sounds like they're not confident that Zen is up to the challenge . . . therefore the contingency plans.

http://URLWoody 1

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letsgobucks's picture

I'm pretty sure they have a contingency plan at every position. What if Zen is out for whatever reason? Failing to plan is planning to fail..

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Dayton Buckeye's picture

At least with Will at QB we really to not throw a lot of deep routes. He get the ball out quickly. We will have to have a RB help in pass protection to his side. Really the worst position to lose on the O line. 

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Alpine Buckeye's picture

If Zen doesn’t work out, I would think Donovan or Tegra would go to LT, with Sereveld taking over at the vacated guard spot. Honestly, Donovan has the ability and would certainly boost his draft stock if he can play well at LT.

And when we win the game, we'll buy a keg of booze!

And we'll drink to old Ohio 'til we wobble in our shoes!

Ohio, Ohio!

We'll win the game or know the reason why!

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ApollosGYRO's picture

I recall a similar situation (keyword is similar and not identical) when Marcus Hall was ejected in the 2013 game and his back up was this 3 star guy by the name of Pat Elflein and he made the most of his opportunity.
 

Zen didn’t look awful coming in cold off the bench against the #2 team in the nation. I really think he’s going to improve/impress

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TurdFurgison's picture

You guys are in for a rude awakening if you think Zen did "good" against Oregon. 

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LawClub's picture

Do you remember Taylor Decker's first year? This was a sudden entrance, ice cold, in front of a hostile, loud crowd and national audience against a good D line. Let's pump the brakes on the "he sucks" stuff

"Make Helen Well"

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bubbag1234's picture

He has a lineman's name.

Zen and Seth are good hardcore names for linemen.

BubbaGumps

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461buckeye's picture

Hope I am very wrong but this is looking like the downfall on our hopes. Everybody knew the o line was iffy with everybody healthy and now it is very shaky. Any more injuries and there is no backup plan except chaos.

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BrewstersMillions's picture

I'm as optimistic as anyone here and this has me worried because this can absolutely derail you. But Chip is super creative and I'm sure he knows how to give guys help.

One thing I'm thinking of as a silver lining, we came into this year knowing Simmons was at LT and Fryar was probably at RT, right? Someone correct me if there was a competition at RT. My thought here is that maybe Zen can play, we just didn't expect to have him play so much so soon? I don't know. Day's talk of contingencies throws cold water on that though.

Help with the tight ends, get creative in the run game with misdirection. If Zen or whoever plays LT is a liability, there are things you can do so long as you don't leave them on an island.

Michigan Cheated

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OSUAlumInAZ's picture

Time to shine Zen! You can do it big guy!!!

OSUAlumInAZ

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Seattle Linga's picture

Buckeye Nation is behind you Zen - it's your time to shine. 

Always try to look for the positive ........... in the midst of a crisis !!

Cheerish every single day 

HS