Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal compliments Ohio State defensive line

One of the top games of Week 2 of the college football season is when the 12th-ranked Oregon Ducks fly to Columbus, Ohio to tangle with the 3rd–ranked Ohio State Buckeyes.

Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal was asked about Ohio State’s defensive line on Wednesday afternoon and here’s what he had to say.

Mario Cristobal on Ohio State defensive line

“Just really explosive and stout inside. Just thick, explosive bodies, that are not only capable of stopping the run but their pad level is so good. They’re technically so sound. They’re really strong with their hands. They get their feet in the ground. They penetrate. When you watch the line of scrimmage played by them–they’re knocking people back all the time. They’re really good pass rushers as well. They’re not one dimensional players,” Mario Cristobal said.

“They don’t have to really [substitute] much. But they do. They have a lot of good players. On the edge, they’re just long, athletic, and explosive. Really long, athletic, and explosive. Their get-off is elite. They seem to have a first step advantage on the tackles they go against. You see a lot of people try to chip them, get tight ends in protection to try to help their tackles…These aren’t one dimensional speed rushers. There’s speed, there’s power, they come underneath. They use their hands really well. Just all in all, an elite defensive line.”

The Buckeyes‘ defense had two sacks and four tackles for loss against Minnesota in their season opener.

Their defensive line was gashed last week by running back Mohamed Ibrahim and a very talented Golden Gopher offensive line, one of the most talented and experienced units in the country.

Before leaving the game with a season-ending injury, Ibrahim shredded the Buckeye defense to the tune of 163 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries. You can read more about how lightly recruited of a high school prospect Ibrahim was here, courtesy of On3 staff.

The Oregon offensive line allowed eight tackles for loss and three sacks against Fresno State, so Cristobal is well aware is offensive line must be alert of the talent of the Buckeyes’ defensive front. They’ll have to be aware of players like Zach Harrison and Haskell Garrett.

Haskell Garrett scoop and score

The Ohio State defensive line is very athletic, Cristobal is not telling lies. Haskell Garrett had one of the first “big man” touchdowns of the 2021 college football season. Watch as the big man rumbles for 32-yards for the touchdown score.

🚨 SCOOP AND SCORE 🚨@HaskellGarrett_ with the big man TD for @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/paBwcwP7qp

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 3, 2021

Before committing to Ohio State in the 2017 recruiting class, Garrett was a consensus four-star prospect coming out of national power Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nevada). Bishop Gorman is one of the most prestigious high school football programs in the country. When Garrett was suiting up for the Gaels, they went 43-0 during his three seasons there. Not only did Bishop Gorman win three state titles during those seasons, they also won the overall national championship three years in a row as well.

Ohio State and Oregon are set to square off Saturday, Sept. 11 at 12:00 p..m. EST. The game will be nationally televised on FOX.