Ohio State football: Is this Buckeye defense better than the 2002 team?
The 2002 Ohio State defense was a key factor in the team winning it all that year. That unit will go down as one of the great defenses in Buckeye history. Could it be possible that this 2015 version of the “Silver Bullets” will be even better? While that might seem like a stretch to some, let’s analyze the players, positions, and depth from that 2002 team and compare it to what we have today.
This will be the first part of a series of articles breaking down each defensive position. Today, we look at the secondary.
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We’ll start with the defensive backfield from 2002; led by co-captains Mike Doss and Donnie Nickey, one of the best safety tandems in Big Ten history. They were excellent in defending both the run and the pass. Doss returned for his senior season as a two-time All-American and teamed with fifth year senior Nickey to provide leadership to the other young and inexperienced backs. While all of the DB’s were extremely talented, all eight listed on the depth chart played in the NFL, but three were true freshmen and sophomore Dustin Fox started at the boundary corner.
There were growing pains early on while the team was trying to find a shut down corner. Little did they know they had one on the other side of the ball, wide receiver Chris Gamble. When Gamble was allowed to play both ways, the group improved significantly. As junior, Will Allen developed into a play maker at the nickel back position. While they all will be remembered as one of the best we units that we’ve ever had, early on they were not viewed that way.
After watching that awesome interception below by Will Allen against Michigan, we’ll analyze what coaches Chris Ash and Kerry Coombs have to work with this year.
The Buckeyes return two starting safeties; juniors Vonn Bell and Tyvis Powell, and backup safety Cam Burrows returns at nickel. Eli Apple returns at corner back while two other players will be battling for the other corner position; sophomore Gareon Conley and redshirt Freshman Damon Webb.
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Apple had a fine freshman season and the Buckeyes hope that he can become that lock down corner they need this year. While Conley has the edge at the other spot right now, he is being pushed by Webb who many believe could develop into a cover corner as well. Webb could also see time at the nickel if he doesn’t win the starting position. Add talented redshirt freshman Marshon Lattimore to the mix and the Bucks should have a very good group of corners.
As was the case in 2002, experience and leadership will come from the safeties. Bell and Powell are good against both the run and the pass. Both are playmakers and have shined in the biggest moments. Powell’s interception to seal the win against Michigan in 2013, Bell’s in the Sugar Bowl last year when Alabama was driving for a score. With Burrows as an experienced backup. along with promising sophomore Eric Smith, the Bucks have the potential to have the best group of safeties in college football.
While the 2002 secondary had a tremendous amount of talent, I believe this year’s is equally as talented. With the returning starters and all of the players having at least two years in the program, they could be even better. What do you think?
Next up we will focus in on the linebacker units from both the 2002 and current team.