The Ohio State football team has been plagued by poor defensive play in recent years, but with a new co-defensive coordinator and a fresh, aggressive scheme, could the Buckeyes be on the verge of fielding a dominant defense?
That’s the hope for head coach Urban Meyer, who has consistently lamented the team’s defensive woes throughout his tenure in Columbus.
The tipping point came last year in the Big Ten title game, when the Buckeyes were one victory away from playing for the BCS National Championship against Florida State. Instead, Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook dissected a beleaguered secondary, throwing for 304 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Spartans in a 34-24 victory.
That was midway through a three-game stretch when the Buckeyes allowed an average of 38.3 points and 539 total yards to end the 2013 season. It forced Meyer to hit the reset button and start over.
“We completely have blown up and started from scratch,” Meyer said at Big Ten media days, according to John Kampf of The News-Herald. “(That is) an area that we were not very strong in, pass defense.”
Hiring Chris Ash to join the defensive staff was the first step in Meyer’s overhaul.
Previously the defensive coordinator for Bret Bielema at Wisconsin and Arkansas, Ash is known for his aggressive 4-3 scheme. His defense requires the cornerbacks to play press coverage close to the line of scrimmage—a big difference from last year’s defensive…
Continue Reading: Ohio State Football: Defense Finally Turning a Corner?
