Kirk Herbstreit discusses how Ohio State's defense can have major impact against Georgia

With the College Football Playoff drawing closer, everyone is going over each semifinal with a fine tooth comb in order to break it down. That’s especially true of the Peach Bowl matchup between Georgia and Ohio State and, when we’re talking defense, ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit has shared some interesting points when it came to the Buckeyes.

Herbstreit believes this is the kind of game that Ohio State brought DC Jim Knowles in for. He says he has already made a major impact this season in making the Buckeyes less predictable and more dynamic on that side of the football.

“They have been a certain team most of the year. Now they do a good job of mixing up coverages. Part of the reason I think Jim Knowles is there is Ohio State became very predictable with their defensive structure and scheme. (They were) playing mostly a one high look, either man free or cover three,” said Herbstreit. “Those are pretty much the only two defenses that they ran. So teams were able to scheme them up with that look. And I think what he’s done is he’s brought in the ability now to get into different looks. Not just man you up, but play some cover two, some quarters. They have a variety of different packages that he likes to use.”

In his first season with Ohio State, Knowles coached them up to being a Top-15 defense in the country. The offense gets all their headlines, but their defense allowed just 19.2 points per game this season.

Defending a team like Georgia, though, is a whole different animal. If the Buckeyes want to slow down the Bulldog’s Top-15 offense, Herbstreit pinpointed that playing multiple coverages and forcing Georgia into long drives they have to sustain through the red zone will be key for Ohio State.

“I’d be speculating. I still think you don’t play one defense. They’re going to mix up their looks…I wouldn’t be surprised to see them be more conservative. Play a little bit more shell coverage. Try to make Georgia be more patient and then execute in the red zone,” Herbstreit said. “Georgia’s been hit or miss in the red zone this year. If you go back and look, there’ve been games when they’re as good as anybody. There’ve been other games where they’ve struggled to execute.”

“So, instead of giving up big hits like they did against Michigan? I would be surprised if they didn’t try to force Georgia into being more patient,” said Herbstreit. “Make them have to earn their points. As opposed to rolling the dice trying to get it to (Stetson) Bennett, playing man-to-man, and hoping to get to him before he can burn you.”

Ohio State’s defense did not look good whatsoever in their final outing against Michigan in the regular season. If they’re going to have a shot at a championship run, showing that they’ve found their groove since then on that side of the ball will go a long way in helping them do that.