How Ohio State Football can fix secondary issues

For the last few seasons, the biggest issue that the Ohio State football team has had has come from play on the defensive side of the ball. Specifically, in the secondary. The Buckeyes were truly awful in the secondary in 2020 and had terrible safety play in 2021.

While the defense has largely been better this year, the cornerbacks have been an absolute disaster. It hasn’t been in just one game either. There have been multiple games this year where the corners have gotten beaten for deep pass plays.

That was on full display in The Game when JJ McCarthy unleashed three deep throws to beat the Buckeyes. Those touchdowns were the difference in the game in my opinion. Now, the Buckeyes face a much better quarterback in the CFP semifinal in the Peach Bowl.

The Ohio State football team needs to give the corners safety help against Georgia.

The best way to keep the corners from getting burned against Stetson Bennett and the Bulldogs is to give them some deep safety help. It doesn’t have to be with two or three safeties, it just has to be at least one guy back there to help things from getting out of hand.

Ohio State is the better offensive team, but Georgia’s defense is by far better than what the Buckeyes have to offer. That’s why the Buckeyes have to play better defense on the back end. Georgia is good enough to stop Ohio State’s offense from time to time. It’s unclear if Ohio State can do the same with its defense.

I think if the corners are able to keep big plays to a minimum, that gives the Buckeyes a shot to win this game. They have to keep Georgia from getting chunk plays. Ohio State’s offense is good enough to get some big chunk plays of their own too.

I’m sure Jim Knowles watched the film from The Game and will make adjustments accordingly. If he does, the Buckeyes have a really good shot to win the Peach Bowl.