Joel Klatt shares concern for Ohio State's defensive line

Naturally, the quarterback competition is a point of conversation for Ohio State. Kyle McCord and Devin Brown are in a battle, looking to replace the excellence of CJ Stroud. Head coach Ryan Day has not made a decision just a couple of weeks away from the season opener against Indiana.

FOX’s Joel Klatt is not too interested in who wins out between Brown and McCord, though. Yes, it’s important who the starting quarterback at Ohio State is but he believes there are bigger concerns across the roster. Specifically with the defensive line. And even a step further — the defensive line when facing off against Michigan.

“The most imminent thing I have concerned about is ‘Is my defensive line good enough and better and up to par to stop the run of the Michigan Wolverines?’ Because that’s the only way they’re going to go out there and win that division,” Klatt said. “They’ve got excellent pass rushers but they better be stout in order to stop the run.”

Ohio State cannot beat Michigan at line of scrimmage

For Klatt, the reasoning behind Michigan beating Ohio State is pretty simple. The line of scrimmage has been dominated by the team dubbed ‘That Team Up North’ in Columbus. Not just on the offensive line where the Wolverines have won back-to-back Joe Moore Awards. Their defensive line is not giving up much room in the run game either.

“Ohio State has got to get better on the defensive line,” Klatt said. “I think that they will be. The biggest question surrounding Ohio State, for me, is not their quarterback. It’s about the defensive line. Right after their loss to Michigan, what did I say? I said ‘They got beat on the interior of each line of scrimmage. Guard-center-guard or defensive tackles.’ Michigan was better and tougher in those areas.

“Ohio State has an inability to run the ball, they got forced into must-passing situations. And Michigan won the game. Michigan, they were able to control the game late and get Ohio State into vulnerable defensive structures based on their need to stop them and then they were able to pop big runs.

Michigan has averaged 274.5 rushing yards per game over the last two years. The yards per carry are sitting at a staggering number — 7.2. Ohio State could not be any different, coming in at 103.5 YPG and 3.5 YPC.

Nothing matters more than anything to Ohio State and that’s beating Michigan. Not only because of how important the rivalry is. But also because of the implications over the past two seasons. Two consecutive losses from Ohio State have kept them out of the Big Ten Championship.

And although there was a College Football Playoff appearance last season, it took some help from elsewhere.

Getting better at the line of scrimmage is how Ohio State will get back to winning ways in The Game according to Klatt. Otherwise, the program will be facing a three-game losing streak for the first time since 1995-1997.