Defense takes deserved bow
Opponents are averaging 14 points against Buckeyes.
Ohio State COLUMBUS— defensive coordinator Luke Fickell won’t issue the final evaluation of his defense in 2015 until after the Fiesta Bowl.
While the No. 7 Buckeyes (11-1) face a big challenge in No. 8 Notre Dame (10-2) on Jan. 1 in Glendale, Ariz., there’s no doubt Ohio State’s defense got better in Urban Meyer’s fourth season — and that’s been a trend.
In the past four seasons, Ohio State’s opponents have averaged fewer points per game each year and, aside from an increase from 2012 to 2013, they have also gained fewer yards per game each season. 2012: 22.8 points per game; 359.6 yards per game. 2013: 22.6; 377.4. 2014: 22.0; 342.4. 2015: 14.0; 303.5. “I think we’re really good,” Fickell said last week. “We’ve got great talent, but great talent doesn’t always equate to statistically the best defense.
“The season’s not over yet, but the reality is it’s an unselfish group that week in and week out got better because they truly believed in the fundamentals and believed in the little things. They cared about one another to put those elements together.”
Ohio State didn’t allow more than two touchdowns in nine of 11 games. Every starter, except defensive tackle Tommy Schutt, earned an AllBig Ten honor. Ohio State ranked second in the country in points allowed and gave up just one rushing touchdown in the final six games.
In Big Ten play, defensive end Joey Bosa led the conference with 13½ tackles for loss. Bosa, safety Vonn Bell and defensive end AdolphusWashington, who’s suspended for the Fiesta Bowl, all received first team All-America honors.
There’s not much bad to say about the Ohio State defense.
Except with the season on the line against Michigan State on Nov. 21 at Ohio Stadium, the Buckeyes let the Spartans march 25 yards in nine plays to kick the winning field goal. The offense deserves as much blame for that moment for putting the defense on a short field.
“I’m very happy with the way we played this year,” said outgoing co-defensive coordinator Chris Ash, who will become the head coach at Rutgers after the Fiesta Bowl.
“Could we have played even better at times? Yeah, absolutely. As a coach I don’t think you’re ever really, truly satisfied. You probably never want to say that you’ve reached your full potential.
“I think we have played extremely well at times and there’s some times especially earlier in the season we probably would have liked to have played a little bit better. But when you look at the stats, they tell a pretty good story.”