Surging Silver Bullets put progress on display in dominant shutout

Nothing says defensive resurgence better than just one word.

Shutout.

“It definitely gives us a lot of confidence,” captain, defensive end and now special teams star Chase Young said after he and Ohio State knocked off Cincinnati 42-0 on Saturday in a game that was supposed to be closer than that.

And it would have been, score-wise, had it not been for Young’s block of a Cincinnati field goal attempt in the second quarter, linebacker Tuf Borland’s interception (off a deflection caused by Shaun Wade) at the Ohio State 5-yard line in the third quarter and backup linebacker Dallas Gant’s strip at the goal line in the closing minute, Marcus Williamson corralling the ball in the back of the end zone.

In the modern world of wide-open offense, though, a defense will take a shutout any which way it comes and not look back at the serendipity involved. Such was the case for the Buckeyes, Young said, knowing they face another validity test Saturday in their Big Ten opener at Indiana (2-0).

“It shows us what we could be,” Young said. “Because I still don’t believe we’ve touched our potential yet.”

Ohio State defensive end Chase Young was a major factor in the shutout win for the Buckeyes. (Birm/Lettermen Row)

There’s no denying the Buckeyes have come a long way since their last shutout, though. It was against Rutgers in the fifth game of 2017, a season in which Ohio State finished No. 10 in total defense nationally. That was followed by one of the more porous seasons in school history last year when the Buckeyes slid to No. 72 in total defense and No. 51 in scoring defense despite the team’s 13-1 record.

It was no surprise that Ryan Day wasted little time in remodeling the Ohio State defensive coaching staff wing when he took over officially from Urban Meyer on Jan.2. Toward that end:

• Gone was former Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano; in was Greg Mattison from Michigan.
• Already gone was co-coordinator Alex Grinch, now coordinator at Oklahoma; in was Jeff Hafley from the San Francisco 49ers.
• Gone was linebackers coach Bill Davis; in was Al Washington Jr. from Michigan.
• Gone was cornerbacks coach Taver Johnson; in was Matt Barnes from Maryland, hired as assistant defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator.
• Retained was Larry Johnson, considered one of the elite defensive line coaches in the nation.

Through the spring and preseason, Day expressed confidence the changes were going to make a major difference. Two games in and with that shutout now up on the board, the confidence has strengthened.

“It’s another step in the journey,” Day said. “It’s what we see in practice every day. Going up against [the Ohio State defenders] in spring and during preseason, I knew they were going to be tough. And they’re getting there.

“It’s not a finished product by any means, but they’re getting there. And I think what Greg Mattison and Jeff Hafley and the whole defensive staff have done to put that all together, getting those guys coming off the ball — Larry Johnson’s guys up front. I thought we owned the line of scrimmage [against Cincinnati]. … They were flying around.”

Talk about a plan coming together.

“That’s what we envisioned when we put this together,” Day said. “We all got together I guess back in January when it all came about. But this is a great start for those guys. I thought they were running around tackling well and creating turnovers against a good Cincinnati team.”

In the midst of it all was the undeniable presence of Young, nicknamed “The Predator.” He and his teammates on the defensive line, including tackles Davon Hamilton and Jashon Cornell, created havoc all day. Take a play or three to concentrate on just the effort and effectiveness of Young and it’s easy to understand — from the way he ran past a would-be double team block to gain a sack on one play or ran down a ball carrier the next.

“I think he is playing at a different level, because I think his preparation is elite, he has an elite coach in Larry Johnson,” linebackers coach Washington said. “Not only is he playing at a high level, he’s trying to get his people around him to play at a high level.”

As for the shutout, to call it just luck, that might be pushing it. Because replay shows it was a product of team play to the end for Ohio State. For examples:

• On the Young field goal block: “I was on the other side of big Dawand, our freshman tackle,” Young said, referring to the 6-foot-8, 360-pound Dawand Jones. “They opened it up for me, and I just think those two that they opened that little crease up and I could wedge in there and get my hand on it.”
• On the Borland interception: “Shaun made a great play,” Borland said. “Defensive line got pressure on the quarterback, forced a throw, and I was there to make the play.”
• On the Gant strip and Williamson recovery: “That was a good play” and example of hustle by all involved, Borland said. “Again, good tackling, you run to the ball.”

And good things can happen?

“We definitely see sparks,” Young said.