COLUMBUS, Ohio — The ultimate goal slipped away along with the longest winning streak in school history, but Ohio State certainly isn’t short on motivation with one game left to play. For starters, the No. 7 Buckeyes are still in the BCS with a marquee matchup against No. 12 Clemson in the Discover Orange Bowl. After dropping the Big Ten championship against the best opponent they’ve faced since Urban Meyer took over the program, taking on the Tigers also represents another opportunity to show off nationally and perhaps earn a bit of redemption. And, obviously, the Buckeyes can potentially start a brand new winning streak if they can knock off Clemson on Jan. 3.
+ EnlargeAndrew Weber/USA TODAY SportsOhio State signal-caller Braxton Miller must get his passing back on track during bowl practices.But there’s plenty of time between that date and now, and Ohio State also has no shortage of things to work on during bowl practices this month. After not getting the chance to put on the pads last December, it surely won’t be taken the workouts for granted this year — and they also need them for what could be a shootout with the Tigers. Shore up the secondary: This issue is nothing new for the Buckeyes, but they need to make a correction now more than ever if they’re going to end the season on a high note.
Coverage breakdowns, poor communication and missed opportunities nearly cost Ohio State a perfect regular season as Michigan picked it apart in late November. Michigan State actually finished the job a week later with Connor Cook making it look far too easy to throw for more than 300 yards, a feat which would have been stunning to even consider back in the preseason with all the veteran talent returning in the backend for the Buckeyes.
The loss of Christian Bryant to a fractured ankle in September was a huge blow, and the secondary never seemed to fully recover from it. The Buckeyes certainly appear to have a bright future after landing arguably the nation’s best class of cornerbacks and safeties last year, but those newcomers weren’t quite ready for regular roles as freshmen and need another offseason of development before they can make a difference.
That won’t do much good against the Tigers, though, which puts the pressure on Bryant’s replacement at safety, Corey “Pittsburgh” Brown, and the other three starters to raise their games to slow down a team which is more than capable of airing it out and scoring points in bunches.
Brax to basics: Braxton Miller remains one of the most dangerous open-field runners in the country, and his individual rushing numbers have improved late in the season…
Continue reading this article at ESPN: Bowl prep: Ohio State’s to-do list
