When Ohio State cornerback Bradley Roby turned down a likely first-round selection in last year’s NFL draft, he returned to Columbus with the plans to improve as a player and help the Buckeyes win a national championship.
While No. 4 Ohio State is still in contention for a national title bid, Roby’s production has slipped dramatically on the field.
This week against Penn State, Roby will be facing his stiffest test of the year when he lines up against Allen Robinson.
Robinson, fresh off a breakout sophomore campaign that netted first-team All-Big Ten honors, has continued his solid play to become the Big Ten’s most consistent wide receiver. The 6’3″, 210-pound playmaker is averaging 117 receiving yards per game, good for 10th nationally, and paces a dynamic Nittany Lions passing attack.
Roby, who also earned first-team All-Big Ten honors as a redshirt sophomore, hasn’t carried over that consistency.
The Buckeyes’ pass defense, which was supposed to be one of the team’s strengths, is giving up a bloated average of 240 yards per game.
Roby has been picked on—first in Week 3 against Cal when he gave up two touchdown passes, then two weeks later against Wisconsin, when Jared Abbrederis torched him for 10 catches, 207 yards and a touchdown.
Ohio State defensive coordinator Luke Fickell told Eric Seger of The Lantern that part of Roby’s struggles stem from the Buckeyes’ efforts to stop the run.
We gotta do some things to give…
Continue Reading: Ohio State Footall: PSU’s Allen Robinson Poses Big Challenge for Bradley Roby
