For an offseason dominated by Ohio State’s defensive overhaul and how the Buckeyes vowed their leaky pass defense wouldn’t be so, uh, leaky, it’s still hard to evaluate if a supposed cascade of changes actually worked.
But here’s what we do know.
Two weeks ago, Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Brewer threw for 199 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions on 23-of-36 attempts. He wasn’t perfect, but he made a handful of plays that were the backbone behind the Hokies’ third down success in a 35-21 win in Columbus. That Brewer, though — the one who looked studly against the Buckeyes — was unrecognizable against Georgia Tech this weekend.
Against Kent State, Ohio State smothered Colin Reardon’s overmatched crew and held the sophomore quarterback to 76 yards and forced three interceptions.
So how good is Ohio State’s pass defense? Who honestly knows. Urban Meyer and Co. should have a better idea after they play Cincinnati Saturday evening.
“Pass defense is gonna be the call to arms, they’re really good,” Meyer said of the Bearcats Wednesday. “And they got a really good quarterback.”
That “good quarterback” is Gunner Kiel, a redshirt sophomore transfer from Notre Dame and former five-star recruit. Kiel, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound prototype, has completed 66 percent of his passes for 635 yards 10 touchdowns, and two interceptions.
In particular, Meyer saw how Kiel and Cincinnati dissected Toledo two Fridays ago. In that 58-34 win, he had 418 yards and six touchdowns through the air.
“I watched them live Friday night on TV,” Meyer said Tuesday, “I was — kind of like probably most of the country — like ‘Woah.’”
What seems to concern Meyer the most, though, is the Bearcats’ wide receivers. Cincinnati head coach Tommy Tuberville, who’s coached at places like Auburn, Ole Miss, and Texas Tech, said it might be the strongest unit he’s ever had.
“When he made the comment that these receivers are the best group that (he’s) had," Meyer said, "that says something.”
Meyer half-joked the Bearcats are going to catch it at least 75 times since they'll try and throw the ball 150 times.
"The receiving crew is interesting, when I heard Coach Tuberville say it’s the best he’s had that’s when you’re like ‘Wait a minute, now,'" Meyer said Wednesday.
"I’ve known where he’s coached and kind of watched his teams. I’ve coached against his teams and they’ve been real. So when he says that, he catches my eye and I made my team aware of that as well."
Highlighting the group is a trio of talented junior wideouts who vary in skill sets and paths that took them to Cincinnati.
Mekale McKay, who leads the bunch with 12 catches for 215 yards and three touchdowns, is a 6-foot-6 transfer from Arkansas. Shaq Washington, who has 11 catches for 125 yards and a touchdown, is 5-foot-9 former high school quarterback from the Cleveland area. Max Morrison, who has eight catches for 94 yards and a touchdown, is the nephew of former Michigan head coach and Buckeye standout Gary Moeller.
Thing is, they’re not Kiel’s only options: 12 different Bearcats caught a pass against Miami (Ohio) this weekend and 10 did against the Rockets the week before.
It would appear, then, Cincinnati can spread the ball around and Ohio State’s defensive backs — guys like Tyvis Powell, Vonn Bell, Doran Grant and Eli Apple — won’t be able to key in on just one (or even three) guys.
Powell, of course, said the Buckeyes are up for the challenge.
“I’m not shying away from it, I’m actually kind of excited about it. Like I said, I’m ready to prove, show the world that the pass defense has improved," he said.
"The coaching staff has worked very hard in the offseason to try and improve the pass defense and I’ve seen it in practice how far we’ve come from last year. I just wanna go out there and show the world that we actually improved it.”
Meyer said: “What I saw on film (is) what I saw on TV friday night. Heck of a quarterback with very good receivers and good protection.”
And Ohio State, if it wants to avoid an unprecedented loss to an in-state for the first time since 1921, will have to figure out a way to shut down all of the above.
