Ohio State Football: Defense must limit explosive plays
If the Ohio State Buckeyes are to contend for a spot in the College Football Playoff the defense must perform at a high level and limit explosive plays.
The Ohio State defense was uncharacteristically mediocre last season. Its play has been the primary source of attention this off-season with Buckeye Nation and most of the national media wondering if the coaching changes and nine returning starters will equate to considerable improvement.
There is no need to dwell on the stats in 2018 except to say the defense finished No. 51 in the FBS in scoring allowing 25.5 points-per-game.
By comparison, the 2015 defense finished No. 2 allowing 15.1 points-per-game and No. 3 in 2016 allowing 15.5 points-per-game.
The numbers last year are definitely shocking. It is worth mentioning the 2014 defense allowed 22.0 points-per-game, so while a coaching overhaul was justified and better play is needed the unit is not as far off as perception leads us to believe.
Ryan Day made bold choices in getting Greg Mattison, Al Washington, Matt Barnes and Jeff Hafley to join his staff to reconstruct a defense that is stocked with top-level talent. Out of all the areas the coaches need to address, the resurgence back toward the Top 15 begins with stopping long plays from scrimmage.
The defense allowed 5.77 yards-per-play in 2018, the highest under Urban Meyer’s tenure. It also finished No. 118 in IsoPPP+, Football Outsiders’ explosiveness stat.
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The unit was getting gashed almost every week killing momentum and I suspect confidence. 2019 will not be any easier when it comes to dynamic offensive players the defense will face.
Running backs alone will be a handful. Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor is the best running back in the FBS and finished with 2194 yards last year.
Anthony McFarland, Stevie Scott and Michael Warren were all 1000-yard rushers last year and Isaiah Bower was close with 891 yards.
The secondary’s job gets a little easier with receivers. They avoid Rondale Moore and Tyler Johnson, but will have to slow down JD Spielman.
Regardless, the players wearing Scarlet and Gray should be better than any player they face in the regular season.
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If the defense limits explosive plays, I think the points-per-game drop by seven. That puts the unit back in the Top 15 and championship worthy.