CLEVELAND, Ohio – Welcome to this week’s edition of Buckeye Chalk Talk with former Ohio State football offensive lineman Andrew Moses. Last week, we talked about how the Ohio State defense used a Bear defensive front for just the fourth time all season to help spring Joey Bosa for a game-clinching sack of Christian Hackenberg in the second overtime of Ohio State’s thrilling 31-24 win over Penn State. This week we break down Bosa’s sack of Reilly O’Toole in the third quarter of Ohio State’s dominating win over Illinois. We also break down some important factors to watch tomorrow night when the explosive Michigan State offense takes the field, as the Buckeye defense faces its toughest challenge so far this season. Against Illinois, Ohio State showed another cornerstone of its third-down defensive philosophy this year. The Buckeye defense used its “speed rush” personnel grouping along the defensive line, having linebacker Darron Lee play a stand up defensive end, moving Bosa inside next to Bennett and having Steve Miller line up at the other defensive end. The Ohio State defensive coaches have been creative in their personnel groupings in 2014, along with infusing more schemes designed to pressure the quarterback. Here, while playing press coverage with a deep safety in the secondary, Bosa and Bennett run another inside twist and Bosa hammered O’Toole forcing another Illinois punt. Michigan State’s offense has spent a huge part of their preparation this week trying to figure out any tendencies the Buckeye defense has shown throughout the course of the 2014 campaign. Third- and fourth-down conversions proved pivotal in the Big Ten Championship game last year and they likely will again Saturday night. Watch my breakdown above to see how Bosa made another big play, and what the Buckeye defense needs to do to slow down Cook and the Spartans offense.
Continue Reading: Ohio State football: How the Buckeyes might attack third down against Michigan State – Chalk Talk with Andrew Moses …
