The performance of Ohio State's defense against Oregon leaves conflicted feelings about where things stand with the unit.
All signs pointed toward the Buckeyes having one of the best defenses in team history before this past Saturday. They were No. 1 in the country for both points and yards allowed, and so much talent returned from a top-three defense in 2023 only to add the nation's No. 1 transfer at free safety in Caleb Downs.
Then the defense put on its worst display since the 2022 Peach Bowl, which Ohio State lost 42-41 to Georgia, giving up its most points (32), total yards (496) and plays of 20 yards or more (eight) since that game. Oregon was far and away the best offense the Buckeyes have played in 2024, but when a defense gives up eight explosives with no sacks or takeaways to show for it, it's hard to call the performance anything but a bad one.
That defeat against the Ducks weighs heavily when grading the Buckeyes' ball-stoppers because, as a top-three showdown, it's the most important contest Ohio State's played this year. Each unit has shown it can play at an A level, but most have been a B or worse when considering OSU's six games in totality.
Defensive Tackles: B
When Tyleik Williams and Ty Hamilton have both been healthy, they've mostly played well.
With Williams missing two games against Marshall and Michigan State, the duo's combined for 37 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and three sacks in 10 total game appearances between them. Run defense starts at the defensive tackle position, and Ohio State is eighth nationally in rushing yards allowed per game (86.3) and fourth in yards allowed per carry (2.7).
But as is thematic for the entire defensive line, the duo's presence wasn't felt very much against Oregon. Williams picked up five tackles but none were solo, Hamilton got three with one being solo and neither had a tackle for loss.
Kayden McDonald has shown flashes all season, but the Buckeyes have a clear dropoff from Williams to the next group of 3-techs including Jason Moore, Hero Kanu and Tywone Malone. Kanu started for Williams against Marshall and Malone against Michigan State before Moore went in for him first against the Ducks – in other words, Larry Johnson is throwing a lot at the wall behind his star at the position and nothing's really sticking.
Oregon averaged five yards per carry and gained 155 yards total on the ground against Ohio State, finding some success running up the middle. Overall, however, this position has still been a positive for the Buckeyes.
Defensive Ends: C+
Relative to expectations, JT Tuimoloau, Jack Sawyer and their backups were a major disappointment against Oregon.
It's worth noting that Sawyer had a really strong first five games. He amassed 2.5 sacks and 10 quarterback hits in that time but added to neither of those stats against the Ducks. He'd also been a strong run defender with 19 tackles, but again, less so against Oregon, which has the best offensive tackle tandem Ohio State has faced so far this season in Josh Conerly Jr. and Ajani Cornelius.
Tuimoloau registered three quarterback hits against the Ducks but it only gave him five for the season with 15 tackles, five tackles for loss and three sacks. He's shown flashes of game-wrecking ability but also seen long stretches of having all the wrecking power of a mosquito hitting the front of a semi-truck.
Caden Curry has been deployed as both a 3-technique defensive tackle, mostly in Ohio State's four-DE Rushmen package, and defensive end. He's picked up six tackles and a sack off the bench while Mitchell Melton has two sacks and Kenyatta Jackson Jr. has half of one.
Outside of a few Curry pressures the Rushmen package has failed to make much impact, though, as quarterbacks are able to step up without pocket-collapsing defensive tackles.
A C+ may seem harsh for the group, but one has to remember it's headlined by two five-star prospects in their senior years. It's not lived up to that billing, and the image of Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel standing in the pocket with time to sit back and let his receivers work double moves on the outside was one that popped onto the television screen too many times last Saturday.
Linebackers: B-
Have Ohio State's linebackers played better than its defensive ends all season? I don't think so. Did Ohio State's linebackers play better than its defensive ends versus Oregon? Absolutely, I think.
Sonny Styles killed the Ducks' first drive with a sound open-field tackle of running back Jordan James after he caught a pass and ran to the middle of the defense, setting the tone for the junior to rack up a career-high nine tackles while his running mate Cody Simon had the second-most of his career with 10.
It marked a second straight strong performance for Simon and Styles after they combined for 13 tackles and Styles had 1.5 tackles for loss against Iowa. The duo drew criticism after Marshall and Michigan State both found success attacking the middle of the field against the Buckeyes, but they've responded well to those hiccups.
Arvell Reese has risen to third on the depth chart and been deployed in some 4-3 packages, recording 17 tackles, ninth-most on the team. C.J. Hicks has faded some but still has 14 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 2024.
Cornerbacks: C+
Parallel to the Buckeyes' defensive ends, their cornerbacks have been a major disappointment relative to expectations. That's especially true of the Oregon game.
Denzel Burke, Ohio State's top cover corner, gave up eight receptions on eight targets for 179 yards and two touchdowns, per Pro Football Focus. He got toasted on deep routes twice, once by Ducks receiver Evan Stewart and once by wideout Tez Johnson.
TEZ. JOHNSON.
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) October 13, 2024
48 yards to the house!
NBC & Peacock | @OregonFootball pic.twitter.com/EYyY3qSQI7
That accounted for more than half of Gabriel's 341 passing yards – again the most allowed by the Buckeyes since their 2022 bout with Georgia – and both his scores.
It hasn't all been bad for the group. Ohio State's held each of its other five opponents below 200 passing yards this year and Jordan Hancock has played well out of the nickel spot, picking up 17 tackles and four pass breakups. Burke had a career-bad performance in Eugene but has a team-high two interceptions and is still capable of being one of the best corners in college football. Davison Igbinosun has been picked on when in soft coverage but has been solid overall with 16 tackles, an interception and two PBUs.
Lorenzo Styles Jr. has played in some dime packages and he and Jermaine Mathews Jr. have both looked sound in their opportunities depth-wise. If Burke returns to form, the second half of the season could be a much better one for this unit.
Safeties: A-
Lathan Ransom prepares to run out of the tunnel before Ohio State's game against Iowa.
Caleb Downs is a heat-seeking missile who already has five tackles for loss this season. Despite playing furthest from the line of scrimmage, fellow starting safety Lathan Ransom and Downs are second and third on the team in tackles with 29 and 26. Downs also has three PBUs while Ransom has two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
The Ducks' downfield shots mostly came up the sidelines, but there were some coverage lapses in the middle of the field, which is why this pairing doesn't earn an A or A+ on the year. Downs might have been Ohio State's best defender in the game, though, with eight tackles, a TFL and a PBU. Ransom graded out well overall in a six-tackle performance but had a few missed tackles mixed in.
The depth behind that duo is untested, but it might not need to be if Downs and Ransom stay healthy. Malik Hartford got some opportunities as a freshman in 2023, but he and current freshman Jaylen McClain are the only safeties (if nickels are counted as cornerbacks as they are in this article) that have played a single defensive snap outside Downs and Ransom, with 47 each, all coming after games were in hand.
