Three Buckeyes who can help at every level of struggling defense
COLUMBUS — Ohio State preached depth all offseason.
After a turbulent, COVID-shortened year, the Buckeyes finally had a full spring. And summer. And training camp. Fixing the issues that plagued this defense a year ago was imperative.
They thought they found the remedy: Depth.
That hasn’t been the answer.
Through two games this fall, Ohio State is near the bottom of FBS in every defensive category. Kerry Coombs and the defense played 24 different players against Minnesota and 26 against Oregon. That strategy of fresh players rotating in and out has led to confusion and chaos, not cohesion.
“I’m not happy about that at all,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “We’re giving up too many yards and too many points, that’s the bottom line. I think now it’s not just a single game, it’s a little bit of a pattern. We took a long, hard look during the last 48 hours at what’s going on, and we certainly have to make some adjustments. Not only how we’re attacking other offenses, but also just structurally how we’re doing our day-to-day operations.
“We are going to make some adjustments and changes. We have to. … You want to act, you don’t want to overreact. You want to make sure you do things the right way and allow people to do their job. But when it gets to a certain point, you have to get things fixed. That’s what we’re going to do.”
How can the Buckeyes fix these issues? It might be as simple as cutting down on hockey-style line changes and just finding players who can be consistently counted upon. Lettermen Row is breaking down three defensive difference-makers who might need to be on the field more if Ohio State expects to see a marked turnaround.
DE J.T. Tuimoloau
The talent assembled along the Ohio State defensive line is undeniable. But it seems like a lot untapped potential in the Buckeyes first two games. Tyreke Smith and Javontae Jean-Baptiste have combined for no sacks. Zach Harrison has just one, albeit a game-changer against Minnesota. But the Buckeyes, who pride themselves on having a stellar Rushmen unit, haven’t lived up to that standard yet. There are two five-star freshman, meanwhile, who could help alleviate some of those struggles.
J.T. Tuimoloau has shown through two games in limited action that he can contribute and make a difference. If he earns more reps, he can only get better. And so can the Buckeyes defensive line that hasn’t looked as dominant as in the recent past.
LB Cody Simon
Ohio State has struggled in every layer of its defense. But the problems have been particularly glaring at linebacker. It was never going to be easy replacing four linebackers in one offseason, especially when three of those players are now on NFL rosters. But if the Buckeyes have seen a bright spot at linebacker through two games, it’s Cody Simon. The second-year stud from New Jersey has proven he can play at a high level through two games. He had a huge sack against Minnesota and totaled six tackles in the loss to Oregon.
The Buckeyes have been adamant about playing depth on defense. But Cody Simon needs to be on the field on a more permanent basis for this defense to turn its fortunes around.
DB Lathan Ransom
After struggling to defend the pass last season, the Buckeyes seem to have fixed some issues in the secondary. Cameron Brown and Denzel Burke are playing well at cornerback, and Lathan Ransom has continued his impressive play that began at the tail-end of last year. Now, though, Ransom has an even bigger role to play if this defense is going to improve.
Josh Proctor is out for the season with a broken leg. He was becoming a steadying force in the back end for the Buckeyes. They need to find a reliable safety. Does Ransom slide back to Proctor’s spot and sure up this defense? He has the tools to do so. As the Buckeyes search for answers, having Ransom on the field more consistently will only help them find what they are looking for.
