Jim Knowles debates whether he’d prefer to face smash-mouth offense, trick plays

Not many teams have been successful against Jim Knowles and his Ohio State defense near the goal line this season. The Buckeyes rank second nationally in red-zone defense entering the national championship game against Notre Dame, as opposing teams are scoring on just 61.1-percent of their trips to the red-zone.

Ohio State is also second in touchdown percentage allowed in the red-zone at 41.7-percent. Knowles was asked ahead of the national championship game if he would rather face a smash-mouth team or a team that calls trick plays near the goal line.

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“Would I rather have them smash-mouth or trick? I don’t know if I have an answer to that, you know,” Jim Knowles said. “I think when you see the tricks, and you recognize them, you know, you have a real good shot to be successful.

“When it’s just smash-mouth, it’s a fight for every inch. So to me, it’s a little bit less predictable when it’s just smash-mouth.”

The biggest red-zone stop of the season for Ohio State came in the Cotton Bowl against Texas. The Longhorns tried to run up the middle on first-and-goal from the 1 and were stuffed.

On second-and-goal from the 1, Texas lined up in shot-gun with Quintrevion Wisner behind Quinn Ewers. Steve Sarkisian called a toss sweep play to the left, but Caleb Downs and company blew it up, dropping Wisner for a loss of 7.

It wasn’t necessarily a trick play by Texas, but it wasn’t smash-mouth football, either. The drive ended with Ohio State star defender Jack Sawyer sacking Ewers, forcing a fumble and returning it for a touchdown to seal the game and clinch a spot in the national championship.

Jim Knowles said that his familiarity with Texas head coach and play caller Steve Sarkisian helped in that situation and throughout the College Football Playoff semifinal.

“Well, I had only coached against Sark one time at Oklahoma State, so I had some familiarity. It helps. It helps,” he said.

Red-zone defense is sure to be important once again for Ohio State in the national title game against Notre Dame. The Buckeyes have done a solid job of not allowing touchdowns in the red-zone all year. If they can keep that up against the Fighting Irish, they could be national champions.