Ohio State Football: Silver Bullets are leading the charge
As the calendar flips to October, Ohio State has proven to everyone who doubted the Buckeyes, not only has the defense improved but the Silver Bullets are back.
Last season, Ohio State was resting comfortably at 5-0 after defeating No. 9 Penn State in Happy Valley. However, unbeknownst to Buckeye fans at the time, they were already exhibiting signs of a disastrous loss to Purdue three weeks later.
Through those first five games, the Buckeyes gave up a concerning 94 points and had massive holes in the defense that left the field open for multiple 30+ yard plays that even teams like eventual 7-6 TCU exploited with ease.
This season, the script has been flipped by new co-coordinators Greg Mattison and Jeff Hafley. In the first five games the Buckeyes have given up only 43 points, 21 of which came in the first game against Florida Atlantic.
Even since that first game, the Silver Bullets have continually improved, seldom allowing a 20+ yard play and holding each of the other four opponents to 10 points or less.
The Silver Bullet revival has mainly been led by Chase Young, whose incredible season will secure his spot as a guaranteed Top 5 NFL draft pick next April and rank among the best in Ohio State history. Currently ahead of pace to break Vernon Gholston’s 2007 record of 14 sacks, Young leads all of college football with 8 through five games and is wrecking havoc for quarterbacks and running backs alike.
Pressure from Young and others (like Malik Harrison and Baron Browning) has allowed the secondary, particularly Jeffrey Okudah and Jordan Fuller, to make easier plays in the secondary as the opposing quarterback has to get rid of the ball much quicker, forcing incompletions or interceptions.
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Another contributing factor to a top five defense is how the defensive backs and linebackers are flying to the ball and finishing the tackle. Last year, the Buckeyes took a straight path to the football but often found a blocker in the way or grass in their facemask.
A juke or broken tackle left them wondering what went wrong as the ball carrier gained another 25 yards downfield.
This year, the Silver Bullets are back by impressive pressure by Young and the rest of the defensive line, versatile tackling and constraint from the linebackers and impressive open field tackling and pass break-ups by the defensive backs.
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If Ohio State can continue playing stellar defense, the Silver Bullets could be leading the charge for a team that punches its ticket to the College Football Playoff.