The Buckeyes’ ability to stop the run is a question on which the outcome of the Rose Bowl could hinge.
That pursuit was made no easier for Ohio State Monday, when Haskell Garrett – the team’s top interior defensive lineman – announced he would opt out, leaving the Buckeye front four without a first-team All-Big Ten and second-team All-American performer. On Tuesday, the absence of sixth-year senior tackle Antwuan Jackson at Ohio State’s open practice suggested the unit might be without another key contributor.
In place of one if not both of them, a rotation of defensive tackles with varying degrees of experience will have to pick up the slack in order to slow a Utah rushing attack that ranks 13th in the nation with an average of 216.5 yards per game.
“Haskell's (absence) is definitely going to impact the defensive line, when you have a player of that caliber on the field,” Ohio State defensive end Zach Harrison said Tuesday. “But like I said, Haskell made the best choice for him and his family, and I support it 100 percent. Guys who are playing in his spot right now I have all the faith in the world in.”
Garrett logged the most snaps (392) of any Ohio State defensive tackle through the regular season, and led the Buckeyes with 5.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss. But five other Buckeyes have played more than 150 snaps as well as Larry Johnson has employed the type of deep rotation that’s become his calling card in Columbus.
“He’s a senior captain for us, so it’s definitely kind of a tough loss,” Buckeye safety Ronnie Hickman said. “But we have a thing called competitive excellence. When your number’s called, you gotta be ready. The other guys in that D-line room, they work hard and do all the right stuff, so I have no worries about the next guy stepping up and filling his shoes.”
Taron Vincent, who has started seven games this season including five games in place of Garrett at the 3-technique spot, played 317 snaps during the regular season and may absorb most of his teammate’s responsibilities against the Utes. But given that the pair already split snaps throughout the year, the onus will be on a number of other Buckeyes as well.
Tyleik Williams will be a popular nchoice among fans to see an increased workload in Pasadena, as the true freshman was second only to Garrett with five sacks and third on the team with 6.5 tackles for loss during the regular season.
Harrison said there’s a slew of tackles who are capable of starting for the Buckeyes inside, and all of them have already seen significant action ahead of the Rose Bowl.
“Taron Vincent is a good one. He's a good guy, good player. Been playing all season having a great year this year,” Harrison said. “And Jerron Cage, Ty Hamilton. Tyleik Williams, a freshman. Antwuan Jackson, those are guys who will had been there playing good ball for us, I believe.”
Jackson, Hamilton and Cage have each also played north of 180 snaps this season, and all of them have been key to a defense that was successful against the run for most of the regular season, though not in a couple of disastrous performances at the line of scrimmage in Ohio State’s two losses this season.
Just finished watching about 30 minutes of Ohio State practice.
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) December 28, 2021
A few quick notes:
- Cade Stover was practicing at linebacker
- Did not see Sevyn Banks, Antwuan Jackson, Cody Simon or Marcus Williamson
- Chris Olave still practicing with the team despite opting out
Michigan rushed for 297 yards and six touchdowns against Ohio State even with Garrett on the field, and it’s a game that has fueled the Buckeyes’ drive as they’ve prepared for the final challenge of the season.
“I'd say it's been pretty physical. Guys have a chip on their shoulder,” Harrison said. “You go out and compete and do the best you can to get better and to prove to yourself and everybody else that we are who we say we are.”
Most Buckeyes have stopped short of comparing Utah’s offense to Michigan, but the similarities in their run-heavy approach can’t be overlooked heading into Saturday. Utah running back Tavion Thomas has racked up 1,041 yards and 20 touchdowns on the ground in 12 games, and three other Utes have also rushed for at least 400 yards and multiple scores.
The Buckeyes also appear likely to be without their usual starting middle linebacker for Saturday's game, as Cody Simon was another Ohio State defender who was absent from practice on Tuesday.
“O-line wise, they're really big and athletic. They're physical, which is a good combination to have for an offensive line,” Harrison said. “The running backs are all good. They all have a different flavor to them which is something we'll have to keep note of, like, who is in the game, what their running style is.”
Harrison said “it wasn’t easy” for Garrett to decide to opt out, but said he understands the choice that Garrett, Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson and Nicholas Petit-Frere all made in order to preserve their futures.
ALL GLORY TO GOD BUCKEYE 4L pic.twitter.com/TrGTg918Gg
— Haskell Garrett (@HaskellGarrett_) December 28, 2021
If Jackson is also out, that could mean more snaps for Cage, who has also started at times this season for the Buckeyes. Ryan Day mentioned Cage specifically on Monday as a player who had a great opportunity to step up in what the Buckeye head coach said would be Jackson’s last game at Ohio State, though he might have already played his final collegiate contest if his availability has changed since then.
Ohio State still has the talent to win the line of scrimmage even if neither Jackson nor Garrett play on Saturday, but the task certainly won’t be easier without their services.
If the Buckeye defensive line is to have a bounceback effort in the Rose Bowl, though, Ohio State defensive end Tyreke Smith said the group can’t concern itself with who is or isn’t available once the game begins.
“You can't be worried about who's missing, who's not. You've just got to worry about the moment, just be in the moment and play in that game,” Smith said. “I think everybody's going to be fine. Everybody has been practicing hard. We're getting acclimated to the team, watching film. I feel like we're going to be good.”
