COLUMBUS — While questions surround the Ohio State offense this week, there is no such fretting about the Buckeyes’ defense.
Particularly the pass defense.
For two straight weeks, Ohio State has held a team to less than 100 yards passing in a game.
Ohio States is fifth in the nation (and first in the Big Ten) in passing yards allowed per game (119), fifth in opponent completion percentage (.451) and fifth in total defense (225).
Color Coach Urban Meyer impressed.
“(I) haven’t watched all the secondaries in the country, the defensive back fields, but I’ll take ours, especially the way they’re playing,” Meyer said. “I know we’re No. 1 in the Big Ten, but we have to be up there in the national rankings. I haven’t seen that. But playing at a high, high level. That’s obviously correlated with the pressure we get to put on the quarterback.”
Ohio State is ranked fourth in FBS with 12 sacks.”
When Meyer listed the defensive players who graded as champions, most of the starters did, including three of the four defensive linemen — Tyquan Lewis, Joey Bosa and Adolphus Washington — starting linebackers Raekwon McMillan and Josh Perry, and defensive backs. Gareon Conley, Tyvis Powell and Eli Apple.
Darron Lee and Vonn Bell were named co-defensive players of the game, leaving defensive tackle Tommy Schutt as the only starting defender not to grade as a champion.
“That’s a heck of a day against an offense we had a lot of respect for going into it,” Meyer said.
Co-defensive coordinator Chris Ash credited the defensive unit for the shut-down pass defense performances, front the pass rush up front to the re-routes forced by linebackers to the protection on the back end.
“It’s a team concept, team defense. One part won’t be successful without the other. The good thing about it is our guys know that, believe in that, and they’re flourishing because of it.”
Continue Reading: Ohio State football notes: Buckeyes’ pass defense excelling
