https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-state-football/2023/07/139744/denzel-burke-on-ohio-states-secondary-returning-to-its-best-in-america-standard-this-season-its-gonna-happen?ampThis article really explains what has been wrong with Ohi State's defense the past few years. From 2014-2020 Ohio State had six DB's drafted in the first round and another five taken later in the draft. That is an average of almost one first rounder and almost two selections per year.
Not long ago Ohio State had a strong claim to the title of "DBU" but not lately. In the three NFL Drafts from 2021-2023 the Buckeyes had just one DB selected, Shaun Wade as a fifth rounder in 2021.
The first half of the Michigan game is a perfect example of both the strengths and the glaring weakness of Ohio State's recent defenses. In that half Michigan had seven possessions and Ohio State forced three-and-outs on four of them. That is the strength and that is great but the weakness becomes apparent when looking at the other three:
On Michigan's first drive:
- The front seven forced a 3rd and 6,
- The secondary gave up a 12 yard pass for a first down.
- The front seven forced a 3rd and 8,
- The secondary gave up a 33 yard pass for a first down in scoring position at the tOSU 24.
- The defense got a 10 yard sack to effectively end the TD threat and Michigan kicked a FG to make it 7-3.
On Michigan's fourth drive:
- The front seven held Edwards to 2 yards on first down.
- The front seven pushed Edwards back a yard on second down to force a third and nine.
- The secondary gave up a 69 yard TD pass on a play that should have been easily stopped for 5-6 yards and another three-and-out.
On Michigan's fifth drive:
- The defense gave up a 75 yard TD pass on the first play.
Ohio State was feast-or-famine like that a lot this year.
More than half of Michigan's first half drives went basically nowhere. The defense forced three-and-outs which is about all you could ask for. The problem all year in general and in that game specifically was that when the opponent did get past the guys up front, it wasn't a 10-15 yard gain and we set up and try again, it was (in this case) 33 yards into FG range, 69 yards for a TD, and 75 yards for a TD.