Ohio State Spring Preview: Secondary Battles Will Be Legendary
For the second-straight season, Ohio State returns just one starter in the secondary. Is that good or bad?
Probably depends on who you are asking.
No one expected Marshon Lattimore, Malik Hooker and Damon Webb to effectively replace Eli Apple, Vonn Bell and Tyvis Powell. At best, the hope was they would hold their own and get better as the season progressed.
As the chart shows, they outclassed the 2015 secondary in every significant defensive category except scoring defense and that difference was marginal.
| Stat | 2015 | NCAA Rank | 2016 | NCAA Rank |
| Team Passing Efficiency | 104.78 | 6 | 94.36 | 3 |
| Passing Yards Allowed | 184.5 | 16 | 172.2 | 7 |
| Scoring Defense | 15.1 | 2 | 15.5 | 3 |
| Interceptions | 12 | 54 | 21 | 3 |
| Defensive Touchdowns | 4 | 8 | 7 | 3 |
| Redzone Defense | 0.806 | 48 | 0.725 | 5 |
| Third Down Conversion | 0.349 | 29 | 0.322 | 11 |
As the team heads into spring practices, expect the secondary to be a point of emphasis again for coach Urban Meyer and Defensive Coordinator Greg Schiano.
It is hard to imagine getting better production from this unit in 2017, but Buckeye Nation should not be concerned.
The level of experience of the players competing for the open spots this year is minimal and a primary difference between last season and this one.
Lattimore, Webb and Hooker did not have significant playing time before last season, but all three had two years in the system already. That’s not the case this year.
Besides Webb at safety, the likely starters right now are redshirt freshman Jordan Fuller or true freshman Jeffrey Okudah at the other safety position, transfer Kendall Sheffield at cornerback and either Okudah or junior Denzel Ward at the other cornerback spot.
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Of course, there is the possibility that redshirt junior Erick Smith could earn one safety spot. I don’t expect it to happen.
What is not different are the seven players playing in front of them, except for Raekwon McMillan. The Buckeyes return college football’s best defensive line and one of the top linebacking corps.
These two units will protect the secondary. All teams not named Clemson struggled against the Silver Bullets up front last season. That won’t change this year.
Then again, the secondary might not need the help. Schiano and cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs have proven they excel at player development. Why should this year be any different?
The position battles for the three coveted spots will be one of the highlights of spring practices and fall camp.
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These players are fighting to be the next wave of NFL-caliber talent and to carry on the tradition of Ohio State being Secondary U. That spells success this season.