Marshall vs. Ohio State: Five Things To Watch for from the Buckeyes

Drew Thurman (3:03 pm)

Hopefully you already checked out our weekly post, Know the Opposition, that gives you an in-depth look at the Marshall team that will be entering Ohio Stadium tonight.

The one problem is that we don't really break down the Buckeyes in those posts, so we decided go a step further and highlight what to look for from the Scarlet and Gray. So here ya go, five things to watch tonight...

1) Will Terrelle Pryor showcase improved mechanics and consistent passing?

It's the question everyone is asking—was the Pryor we saw in the Rose Bowl a fluke or the future?

He will be under the microscope tonight—and rightfully so. For the Buckeyes to have a realistic shot at a championship run, Pryor needs to be a quarterback and not just an athlete. He needs to make the easy throws actually look easy—completing a higher percentage of passes.

He doesn't need to be Peyton Manning out there, but he does need to become a quarterback. If fall practice was any indication, this transformation seems to be happening, but we need to see it in action. Tonight Pryor needs to show fans that the Rose Bowl wasn't a one-time event. 

2) How does the secondary look?

A big concern heading into the season is the secondary. Those fears became even more of a reality as guys like Chimdi Chekwa, Devon Torrence, and Orhian Johnson have all been banged up in fall practice. Chekwa and Torrence both have hamstring problems, which could linger for the entire season—not exactly a positive at a position that is all about speed. Tonight, watch to see how well Chekwa and Torrence start and stop.

The other big thing to take note of in the secondary is the battle at strong safety between C.J. Barnett and Orhian Johnson. Many believed that Johnson would take over the spot as he became healthy, but Tressel insisted this week that Barnett has been impressive. So watch to see who holds their own at SS.

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3) How does Tressel call the game?

If we have learned anything the last few years, it's that Tressel doesn't really care about the final score if he wins. My fear is that Tressel won't want to reveal too much the week before Miami (FL) comes to town and calls a very vanilla game.

I understand the strategy, but it would be nice if he opened up the offense tonight. Pryor needs confidence early this season, and on top of that, the passing game needs to be rhythm for the schedule ahead. Let's see what Tressel chooses to do...

4) What do Andrew Sweat and Solomon Thomas look like as a starters?

I won't lie; I was ready to see the Etienne Sabino show this fall.

His total lack of respect for himself or any other player on the field during special teams made him one of my favorite players. Those inside the program all said that Sweat was the guy for the job though, and if he was healthy would be the starter at SLB. Well, this fall that became a reality. So, tonight we get our first look at Sweat as he starts alongside Homan and Rolle. He has great size and instincts and in all reality, could really round out the linebacking core well. So watch to see how Sweat performs under the lights tonight.

On the other hand, Thomas is only getting to start because of Nathan Williams' injury. Thomas has yet to put things together in his career, despite having all the physical tools to be a big-time player. If he is going to contribute, this is going to be his year. Defensive end is super thin, and the Buckeyes need Thomas to play with intelligence and not just instincts. He very well could be one of the most important players to watch tonight.

5) What youngsters stand out?

The Buckeyes have a lot of young talent that finds itself in the two-deep. Many are unproven commodities, and tonight will be our first look at them in action.

On the offensive line, we have to watch Andrew Norwell. Tressel has guaranteed the second string line will get some reps together, which will give us a chance to see him. One of the big losses of the fall was Marcus Hall, and the Buckeyes will need to get some quality playing time out of Norwell down the stretch.

On the defensive line we need to pay attention to the play of freshman Jonathan Hankins and redshirt freshman Adam Bellamy. The defensive line graduated some serious depth, and to make a run, both these guys need to contribute.

Some other youngsters on the depth chart to watch include S Christian Bryant, CB Corey Brown, WR "Philly" Brown, and WR Chris Fields. This doesn't even include the young players who could see the field late in the game, if the Buckeyes play the way they should. We then could get to see a player who could become a contributor down the stretch. A guy like Jaamal Berry or T.Y. Williams could go a long way to help their cause by making in big play tonight.