Ohio State Football: The one player OSU must stop in the Peach Bowl
The Ohio State football team is gearing up to play Georgia in the Peach Bowl. The Buckeyes must stop this one player.
Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and this Ohio State football team have their work cut out for them when they take on the Georgia Bulldogs in the Peach Bowl. The Buckeyes will be playing an offense that in many ways is much like Michigan, who has given Ohio State problems the last two seasons defensively.
What Jim Knowles does now and between game time will more than likely determine the outcome of this game. Quarterback Stetson Bennett likes to move around and the Georgia running attack of Daijun Edwards, Kenny McIntosh, and Kendall Milton is very tough.
But the one player Jim Knowles has to stop is tight end Brock Bowers.
Brock Bowers might be the best overall player in this game and most certainly is Stetson Bennett’s favorite and most reliable target. If Ohio State can come up with a way to limit his effectiveness in the game, the Buckeyes might be able to turn Bennett into a one-dimensional, run-first quarterback.
If that turns into the case, I like Ohio State’s chances. The Buckeye defensive line is extremely athletic, full of five-star athletes, and should be able to keep Bennett contained.
Bowers though will be a handful. He has 52 catches for 762 yards and six touchdowns on the season. I know those aren’t exactly eye-popping numbers, but the point is that Bowers is a big, reliable target and Stetson Bennett’s security blanket. If Jim Knowles can cover Bowers, it will severely have an effect on Bennett’s overall play.
He also is a threat in the run game with three touchdowns on the season. They like getting the ball in Bowers’ hands, usually good things happen for Georgia.
Bowers had a very good game against LSU in the SEC Championship and look what happened, a 50-30 drumming of the Tigers. This Ohio State defense cannot let Bowers go off on them and expect to win.