No. 3 Ohio State has one of the nation’s stingiest pass defenses, but it hasn’t faced a quarterback-wide receiver tandem as dynamic as the one it’ll see when No. 9 Michigan State comes to town this Saturday.
The Spartans’ offense has revolved around quarterback Connor Cook, and he’s used his connection with wideout Aaron Burbridge to slice up defenses all season. The pair has hooked up for 65 receptions and 1,021 yards—marks that lead the conference—to complement six touchdowns.
Disrupting that explosive connection will be a stiff task for the Buckeyes.
“My confidence is at an all-time high,” Burbridge said, according to Joe Rexrode of the Detroit Free Press. “And the chemistry I have with Connor is at an all-time high.”
That chemistry will be tested by a stout Buckeyes secondary.
Led by safety Vonn Bell and standout cornerbacks Eli Apple and Gareon Conley, Ohio State boasts one of the best secondaries in the country, allowing just 171.6 yards through the air per game. That ranks eighth in the country, and the unit has emerged as the one of the team’s strengths this year.
But the architect of Ohio State’s stingy pass defense—co-defensive coordinator Chris Ash—knows the difficult challenge ahead, via Patrick Murphy of The Ozone.
I think that their offense is like most good offenses. If they’re in a funk, they rely on Burbridge to make a play and they’re no different than what we…
Continue Reading: Ohio State Football: Can the Buckeyes Contain the Big Ten’s Best Passing Duo?
