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How much defensive improvement to expect from Ohio State Football

By Ryan Stano

Nov 5, 2022; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste (8), cornerback Denzel Burke (10) anbd safety Ronnie Hickman (14) tackle sNorthwestern Wildcats running back Evan Hull (26) during the second half of the NCAA football game at Ryan Field. Ohio State won 21-7. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus DispatchNcaa Football Ohio State Buckeyes At Northwestern Wildcats
Nov 5, 2022; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste (8), cornerback Denzel Burke (10) anbd safety Ronnie Hickman (14) tackle sNorthwestern Wildcats running back Evan Hull (26) during the second half of the NCAA football game at Ryan Field. Ohio State won 21-7. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus DispatchNcaa Football Ohio State Buckeyes At Northwestern Wildcats /
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The Ohio State football team knows the defense has to be better this year. Over the past three seasons, the offense was championship-level. No one was disputing that even though the Buckeyes lost the ability to run last season after a rash of injuries at running back.

The defense is what kept the Buckeyes from winning a national championship in each of those seasons. Alabama cooked the defense in the National Championship Game in 2020. TTUN cooked it in both 2021 and 2022. Georgia overcame a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Buckeyes in the Sugar Bowl.

This is now the second year under Jim Knowles. The players should know the system by now, even if the best player is an old-school type of guy. How much improvement can we expect from this defense in year two of Knowles’ complicated but effective system?

Based on Knowles’ history, the evidence would suggest that a significant improvement is expected. According to ESPN, Ohio State finished the season 13th in points per game allowed, 11th in total yards allowed, 14th in passing yards allowed, and 23rd in rush yards allowed.

Those are pretty good stats for the first year of a new defensive system. Of course, the last two games stick out in everyone’s mind. The big pass plays that the Buckeyes allowed to both TTUN and Georgia in the second half as well as the massive runs Ohio State allowed to TTUN.

I would expect the defense to be better this season. I expect them to be top-ten in every one of the categories I mentioned above. Yes, the secondary still has questions. But they have made strides to help that unit by using the transfer portal. Also, players won’t have to think as much this year. They can just react to the ball.

Next. Three biggest wins in the Ryan Day era. dark

The fate of the Ohio State football team’s season rests on the defense. How fast they improve will determine their ceiling.

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