Ohio's defense is a shinning point in being an undefeated team.
Toran Davis summarized Ohio’s defensive tenacity this season in one play.
With the Bobcats backed up to their own one-yard-line, Davis forced a fumble, which Ohio recovered, keeping Southeastern Louisiana scoreless to that point.
Ultimately, a Lions touchdown wouldn’t have mattered — Ohio won 35-14 on Saturday — but Davis’ hit reiterated the Bobcats dominance as a defensive unit this season.
“On defense, it is a complete team effort,” Davis said after the game. “Our defense is real scrappy and has a sense of urgency. When someone is about to score on us, we take it personally.”
Opponents have only averaged 17.3 points per game against Ohio this year, while the Bobcats have averaged close to 34 points per game.
During his weekly press conference Monday afternoon, coach Frank Solich said the defensive effort against Southeastern Louisiana could’ve been better, but it was enough to keep the team undefeated (3-0) for the first time since 2012.
“I like what I’ve seen out of our defense so far,” Solich said. “They play hard, they can run, they generally tackle well….And so far when tested, our defense has risen to the occasion.”
A big reason for the defensive success stems from Ohio’s willingness to adapt to opponents, as well as a second season using the current defensive schemes.
Defensive coordinator Jimmy Burrow said the unit restructured its base defense in 2014 for the first time in almost a decade.
“This year we’ve been able to add other things to the base defense we installed,” Burrow said. “Anytime that you do that, it gives you an opportunity to put in some other things.”
With more options across the depth chart, the Bobcats have been able to alter their defensive game plan to limit the opponent’s offense.
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Against Marshall, Ohio lined up in nickel packages, where a linebacker was subbed in favor of another secondary member. Even when matching up with an FCS school such as Southeastern Louisiana, Ohio altered its approach to halt an offense that runs using the option.
Against Minnesota on Saturday, a program that emphasizes the running game, Burrow said the defense will stack the box against an offense that likes to play with tight ends on both sides of the line.
“The number one thing there is you need to be able to stop the run,” Burrow said. “Usually that’s more of our base defense…they’re gonna come and try to knock you off the ball. Our number one objective is to put the best guys in there to stop the run.”
But even within the substitution patterns implemented, linebacker Chad Moore said it has allowed the defense to let individuals play in their natural positions, rather than forcing the players to fit the schemes.
“Our coaches are up for anything,” Moore said last week. “If we need to make personnel changes, like we did against Marshall, we’re going to do that. Each player knows they have a role and it changes.”
So it’s not as much about the defense establishing an identity — a question swirling around the offense — rather, it’s more about creating an overwhelming presence.
“We’re just playing with more confidence and swagger,” cornerback Brett Layton said. “We just know we can be a dominant unit.”
@charliehatch_
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