(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
Any true football fan will say that games are won and lost in the trenches regardless of how many superstars you have at skill position.
Nowhere has this been more evident than in Columbus the last few years. Line woes have killed the Buckeyes in key games, especially the offensive line.
With the scapegoat of the offensive line, OT Alex Boone, finally gone, many fans feel that the line can only get better.
And in reality, the unit has some good pieces to build around as well.
One is sophomore C Mike Brewster who started after the USC game and played very well from the anchor spot.
He may not be the most technically sound player, but he plays with smarts and energy and a year of experience could do him some good.
Flanking him to his left is Michigan transfer Justin Boren. All accounts and reports say that Boren is the nastiest player in the unit.
Boren plays with tremendous intensity and power from the guard spot, something fans felt the offensive line has lacked for the past few years.
On the other side could be a combination of versatile senior G/C Jim Cordle and G/T Bryant Browning.
The tackle spots do have some concerns.
Sophomores Mike Adams and JB Shugarts are expected to step in to those spots. But both players have had to battle injuries and inconsistencies in practices.
Converted TE Andy Miller has been entered in the mix at tackle. But whoever steps in is going to need to play lights out consistently to give Terrelle Pryor and the offense opportunities to get the ball to their play-makers.
On the other side of the ball, the Buckeyes have quietly assembled their strongest defensive line unit since their championship in 2002.
Anchoring the unit are three very talented defensive ends. The elder member of the unit is Lawrence Wilson, who for the second straight year is returning from a season-ending injury.
Wilson has a wealth of experience and talent that he brings to the position and should be a starter at DE.
Junior Thaddeus Gibson broke out in a big way in the second half of 2008, and looks to continue that. He showed a great motor and a nastiness off the edge along with the urge to get to the QB at any cost.
His fearless, angry attitude should fuel another stronger season and maybe make him one of the most feared DEs in the country by year's end.
One guy not expected to start but who is expected to be an impact play-maker is sophomore DE Nathan Williams.
Not much of an early contributor, Williams earned alot of praise for his high motor and speed. His energy as the first lineman off the sideline was critical to the success of the front four and could also break out in 2009.
DT depth is not a problem for the Buckeyes. Projected starters Doug Worthington and Cameron Heyward have been proven and good anchors of the front four.
Additionally, depth guys such as Todd Denlinger, Dexter Larimore, and Rob Rose create a tremendous amount of solid depth to give the starters time to rest and stay fresh for 60 minutes.
Also waiting in the wings are RS freshmen Garrett Goebel and Willie Mobley ready to help out in the middle of the unit.
Do not forget about the new freshmen as well. DE Melvin Fellows and DT John Simon come in as highly touted, top five linemen at their respective positions.
It is still unclear how much playing time each will have, but look for them to be the next superstars up front.
The common trend with the Buckeyes' recruiting is emphasis on the lines. And 2009 should be the beginning of Ohio State reaping the rewards of great talent up front.
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