BleedGopher
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per ESPN:
Yet here’s the thing that should terrify the rest of the Big Ten and give other College Football Playoff contenders at least some pause: Ohio State is probably still going to get a lot better as the season goes on.
"This was a good start for us," linebacker Chris Worley said. "But we’re nowhere near where we need to be."
How sobering is that? Consider that this team has outscored its first three opponents 170-37. Its defense went more than nine quarters before allowing its first touchdown, and scored four defensive touchdowns itself. These were last season's FBS total offense ranks of Ohio State’s first three opponents, for reference: 6th (Oklahoma), 7th (Bowling Green) and 18th (Tulsa).
The Buckeyes clearly took offense at Oklahoma backup quarterback Austin Kendall's assertion last week that Ohio State had "a basic defense." Linebacker Raekwon McMillan ran around the field after the game with a fan-made sign that read "'Basic' defense." As the team left the field, giddy Scarlet and Gray fans chanted that two-word phrase in unison.
As silly as that whole storyline was -- who cares what Oklahoma’s backup quarterback thinks? –- the funniest part is this: Ohio State excels in part because it can be basic on defense. The Buckeyes haven’t blitzed very much this season, counting on their front four to get pressure. That frees up McMillan and the linebackers to make plays, and a rebuilt secondary has been simply incredible at shutting down the passing game.
http://www.espn.com/blog/bigten/pos...er-ohio-state-could-be-terrifying-by-november
Go Gophers!!
Yet here’s the thing that should terrify the rest of the Big Ten and give other College Football Playoff contenders at least some pause: Ohio State is probably still going to get a lot better as the season goes on.
"This was a good start for us," linebacker Chris Worley said. "But we’re nowhere near where we need to be."
How sobering is that? Consider that this team has outscored its first three opponents 170-37. Its defense went more than nine quarters before allowing its first touchdown, and scored four defensive touchdowns itself. These were last season's FBS total offense ranks of Ohio State’s first three opponents, for reference: 6th (Oklahoma), 7th (Bowling Green) and 18th (Tulsa).
The Buckeyes clearly took offense at Oklahoma backup quarterback Austin Kendall's assertion last week that Ohio State had "a basic defense." Linebacker Raekwon McMillan ran around the field after the game with a fan-made sign that read "'Basic' defense." As the team left the field, giddy Scarlet and Gray fans chanted that two-word phrase in unison.
As silly as that whole storyline was -- who cares what Oklahoma’s backup quarterback thinks? –- the funniest part is this: Ohio State excels in part because it can be basic on defense. The Buckeyes haven’t blitzed very much this season, counting on their front four to get pressure. That frees up McMillan and the linebackers to make plays, and a rebuilt secondary has been simply incredible at shutting down the passing game.
http://www.espn.com/blog/bigten/pos...er-ohio-state-could-be-terrifying-by-november
Go Gophers!!
