Why the competition at left tackle is a very, very good thing

I'm going to include this picture in every post obliquely related to Mike Adams (HT: Our Honor Defend)

With so much turnover going on at such a critical area, placing a magnifying glass on the one largely-unresolved position on the offensive line is a good idea. The entire season hinges on Terrelle Pryor making strides in the passing game, and the guy who makes sure he can do that comfortably hasn't been decided yet. It has come down to Mike Adams and Andy Miller, and many are concerned about Adams' performance (or lack thereof), because if he can't beat out a converted tight end, how can we expect him to develop into the next Orlando Pace? While I can't allay the fears about Adams' development, I can attempt to reassure you guys that competition is a good thing, especially along the offensive line. Why, you ask? Let me count the ways...

1. There is genuine competition, for God's sake

It feels like ages since someone has to had to earn a starting spot at left tackle. When Alex Boone came to Ohio State, he came as the next great Buckeye left tackle, and for three years, he was given the opportunity to become that guy. He didn't. While I hesitate to say he was "gifted" the position by the staff, it's not a stretch to say that he faced little to no serious competition: Boone committed in 2005, and over the next two years, the staff secured commitments from the following players: Connor Smith, Bryant Browning, Andy Miller and Evan Blankenship. Four guys, three of whom were better fits at guard and one of whom was considered to be a TE/OL tweener. Jim Cordle was in the same class as Boone, but opted to take a redshirt. Boone had little in the way of resistance for most of his career.

2. The "Tressel is loyal to his upperclassmen" meme continues to erode

A few years ago, this might have been an open-and-shut case for the staff: a talented, but inconsistent younger player was underperforming in practice, so an older, more experienced guy at his position was perhaps a bit more leeway than he otherwise would, perhaps because inconsistency + inexperience is worse than just plain inconsistency. Nevertheless, in some cases, it was harder for the younger guy to get back in the staff's good graces because starting spots could become etched in stone. Now, it appears Tressel is willing to give Adams - and the other talented youngsters - the benefit of the doubt, in the name of getting the best available players on the field. The first major blow to this motif of Tressel's coaching career was obviously the supplanting of Todd Boeckman by Terrelle Pryor, but no one can say Tressel has abandoned his loyalties yet. While Miller may simply end up being the better player, if the rumors of Adams' inconsistency are true, it's still refreshing to hear that the staff is giving him every chance they can to prove himself.

3. Whoever loses out will make a quality 6th man

Both Adams and Miller have been praised for their versatility, and while Adams is believed to have the protypical tackle body, he can move around and play other positions well. This is a luxury many teams do not have, and it's one that Ohio State hasn't experienced in quite some time. This offensive line is deep, perhaps deeper than any other group Jim Tressel has coached. The odd-man out will still get reps, and be able to give everyone else a breather down the Big Ten stretch when they need it.

4. No one gets to feel entitled to the position

This flows naturally from the first and second reasons that this competion is a good thing, but I think it's important to highlight: Alex Boone faced no serious threat in his time at Ohio State, and thus he - and to a greater extent, Steve Rehring, who was famously quoted as saying the staff should basically "go easier" on the seniors in practice by virtue of the fact that they're seniors - was able to grow a bit, dare I say, complacent? To go along with his clear inability to focus? I've said numerous times before that I absolutely despise fans who question a player's "heart", but it became obvious late in the career of both Boone and Rehring  that they didn't feel they had to compete for their jobs, because (and they were right in this aspect, as I've said, for a couple of years) there wasn't anyone who would realistically take their jobs away from them. If you don't think that played a factor, you have to concede that they at least played like they believed jsut that. Miller and Adams, on the other hand, have the other guy champing at the bit for playing time, and both know they will have to perform well to hold onto their job, because the alternative isn't a walk-on or a true freshman, but someone with whom they fought throughout training camp for the starting job.

I understand the concerns many may be having about Adams' development, but I assure you: this is a good thing for him, as well as Miller. The team at large will end up benefiting from this spirited competition.