Ed. note: Chat Sports has conducted interviews with five prominent Buckeye bloggers and writers from several different websites to help preview the upcoming season, which will be published in a series on our Ohio State Buckeyes news page. Next question question: who are some impact youngsters to keep an eye on?
The offense returns most key starters from last season. The defense, however, lost almost everyone. Who are the players who were backups last year that you're now looking to step up?
Defensive tackle Michael Bennett and cornerback Doran Grant were mentioned most by our pannel, as both players who showed promise but not consistency in rotational duty at their positions last year.
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts.com (24/7 sports)
Michael Bennett must play big at defensive tackle, and there are two sophomores at defensive end and Curtis Grant at middle linebacker. Doran Grant gets a big opportunity at corner and must deliver the goods because there are guys lining up everywhere for that job. Freshman Tyvis Powell was not a backup last year since he redshirted, but he also seems to be in a critical spot as the nickel back right now.
Kevin Noon, BuckeyeGrove.com (Rivals)
The defense will take on the identity of junior cornerback Bradley Roby and junior linebacker Ryan Shazier. Both are smart veterans that lead the team in word and action.
I think the play of the young defensive ends will tell a lot of the tale as well, with both Adolphus Washington and Noah Spence garnering a lot of pre-season attention. If the line (and defense as a whole) is able to create havoc more in check with the 2012 season rather than what happened in the 2011 season, the pass defense will be that much better. In 2011 there was little pressure created and opposing quarterbacks were able to stand back in the pocket and wait for coverage to break down. So much will be predicated by the line play in 2013 when it comes to how a shifting linebacker corps and a veteran secondary will perform. All eyes will be on the guys up front and how the defensive coaches decide to roll guys in and out of the lineup.
Jeff Svoboda, BuckeyeSports.com (Scout)
I think Michael Bennett will be fine at defensive tackle, but they really need Joel Hale or Tommy Schutt - who combined for 10 tackles last year - to take a huge step up, or the team will have to look to converted offensive lineman Chris Carter and true freshmen Michael Hill, Donovan Munger and Billy Price.
The middle linebacker spot is key as well, as the Buckeyes need two linebackers to be playmakers the way the system is set up. Ryan Shazier (115 tackles, 17 TFL) could be an All-American at weak-side linebacker, but that middle spot is worth watching. I'm also excited to see junior cornerback Doran Grant - who struggled at times last year but looked really good in spring - move into the starting lineup.
Marcus Hartman, BuckeyeSports.com (Scout)
The Buckeyes need D-lineman Adolphus Washington and Noah Spence to prove they can be every-down players after strong cameos last season. Same with Tommy Schutt. Michael Bennett was expected to be a starter last season but saw the first half of the season ruined by a groin injury, so all four starting spots on the line have star potential.
At cornerback, Doran Grant had a strong spring stepping into the spot vacated by the graduation of Travis Howard, and the coaches hope Grant will be more consistent than he was in spot duty when Howard or Bradley Roby was injured last season.
Other roundtable questions:
Will the Buckeyes win the National Championship?
What can stop the Buckeyes this season?
Could Ohio State have beaten Alabama last season?
Depth chart battles to look out for
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