Despite a 6-3 record to start the game and a two-game losing streak, Ohio State’s defense has been statistically stout this season. They were a top-25 defense in the four largest categories in the game. They’d been allowing only 97.1 yards per game on the ground, which was 15th in college football.
OSU was allowing 189.9 yards per game through the air, which was a solid 35th in the FBS. Total defense was also top-20. They were 14th in the nation, allowing 287 yards per game. The scoring defense was surprisingly 21st nationally, allowing 18.3 points per game.
The defense stayed at the top-25 level it’s been at, and it got them to 7-3. Their rushing defense was better than average, allowing only 53 yards on the ground. The passing defense was near the mark, allowing 225 yards through the air. The total defense was 278, within nine yards of their average.
Scoring was right at the average too, allowing 19 points near their 18.3 average. Ohio State now averages 91.7 rushing yards per game allowed, 193.4 passing, and 286 yards on total defense. The scoring average barely moved from 18.3 to 18.4. This defense has the Jimmies and Joes; they just need the right X’s and O’s.
What the defense needs to improve on
Capitalizing on turnover opportunities. Ohio State has had a lot of dropped interceptions this season, and they had, by my count, at least two more against Northwestern. Fortunately, it didn’t cost them against the Wildcats as it did against the Ducks the week before. These kinds of plays will need to be made to beat Nebraska on the road and that team up north in The Game at The Shoe.
What the defense did right
The defense rushed the passer better than in any game they previously had this year. More on that in a bit. They were stout on their line at the point of attack in both the passing game and running game. They stuffed the Northwestern running game, holding the Wildcats to 53 yards on 29 carries. Keeping Northwestern stymied for a 1.8 yards per carry average. If this is a sign of things to come, the defense should be good enough to beat Nebraska next week and UM the following week.
Defensive player of the game
Qua Russaw had his best game as a Buckeye. Russaw had five tackles, all of them solo, one sack, three tackles for a loss, and one pass deflection. Russaw was felt by Northwestern when he was rushing the passer, stuffing the run behind the line of scrimmage, and defending passes by knocking them down at the line. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come for Russaw and the OSU defense.
Defensive Stat of the Game
They had their best pass rush of the season. Ohio State recorded five sacks of Northwestern and got the ball carrier stopped behind the line of scrimmage seven times. It did so behind the defensive line, which seemed to have its edge rushers dropped into coverage a little less than in recent weeks.
In addition to Qua Russaw’s big game, more defensive linemen showed out, too. Kenyatta Jackson Jr. had six tackles, four solo, two sacks, and two tackles for a loss. Will Smith Jr. had two tackles, both of them solo, one sack, and one tackle for a loss. James Smith had a huge sack and a tackle for a loss as well. Eddrick Houston’s disruption in the middle helped the rest of the line and the team, too, with 5 tackles.
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