We’ve said it before, but now there’s no doubt. The Ohio State football team is about to face its greatest opponent of the season to date, maybe of the year no matter what, when it plays defending national champion Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl.
We’ve heard about talent equated games, but this is the first time that it’s really true. Unless, that is, you believe teams like Penn State, Wisconsin and Michigan have the same NFL-types on their team as the Buckeye do.
We’ll wait on that answer and raise you winning by double digits in all four of those matchups this year.
Clemson has talent to match what’s on Ryan Day’s sideline, so it’s going to come down to key matchups, preparation, and execution. On that note, here’s five reasons Ohio State beats Clemson in the 2019 Fiesta Bowl Saturday night.
Next … The defensive backs on Ohio State
Ohio State has the DBs to slow down Clemson’s passing attack
The Tigers have a balanced offense, but their biggest plays usually come through the air when quarterback Trevor Lawrence goes to a deep and talented wide-receiving corps. Clemson won’t abandon the run, but it’ll have to go to the air to keep the chains moving on several occasions Saturday.
That’s been fairly easy pickings against the schedule it has faced to date, but the Buckeyes have the secondary to limit some of those big plays down the field. The Tigers will get some big plays — they’re too good not to — but all four of OSU’s starting DBs will likely be in the NFL next year. That’s going to matter in the matchup game.
Next … Ohio State’s offensive line
Ohio State’s offensive line can win the battle in the trenches
Clemson has a lot of young talent on the defensive line, but it’s not the stout and game-wrecking unit it’s had over the last couple of seasons. It’s also a bit of an undersized group that isn’t as effective in moving the line of scrimmage. And defensive coordinator Brent Venables knows it.
So much so that he’s re-tooled the way this defense is built, and the way that it attacks. It’s no longer a rush four and expect to get to the quarterback. Instead he uses more defensive backs and hybrid players to cause havoc with zone blitzes and varied looks all over the field. We’ve talked about it before, but Butkus Award winner Isaiah Williams is the featured guy that lines up all over the place.
But here’s the deal. If Ohio State can stick with the running game and start to lean on that defensive front, it has the horses to start to make hay and move the pile to open up lanes between the tackles for J.K. Dobbins. You’re probably going to see a lot of No. 2 on offense in this one, and for good reason.
Next … Ohio State’s D-line
The Ohio State defensive line can get pressure on Trevor Lawrence
You know about Ohio State defensive end Chase Young, but the rest of the defensive line is another deep bunch without much drop off even when the younger guys come in. This is by far the best defensive line Clemson has faced this year and the Buckeyes should be able to get more pressure on quarterback Trevor Lawrence than any team it has had to line up against in 2019.
If it doubles and chips on Young, guys like Zach Harrison, DaVon Hamilton and Jashon Cornell should be free to make the plays that group is capable of. Don’t double him and he’s going to get around the edge enough to make life difficult with rushed throws and pressure on Lawrence.
Next … Compete level
Ohio State is more battle tested
It’s not always that big of a deal, but there’s something to be said about the competition level a team has faced. You can’t simulate game speed in a lot of cases and all of a sudden you’re in the thick of it with a team that’s faster and stronger than what you’ve played to date.
I like to use the Fiesta Bowl from 2003 as a case study. That Miami team was as talented as any team you’ll find in the history of college football. But it didn’t play nearly the schedule Ohio State did. And if you remember correctly, it seemed like every week was a nip-and-tuck affair for that Buckeye squad.
The game started, and despite the talent on the Hurricanes squad that year, there was an adjustment period. The defensive line was getting to the quarterback, so much so that Miami had to abandon its offensive blocking scheme. It was a shock.
“The U” eventually made the adjustment and its talent started to reel things back in a bit, but by then it was in a dogfight that went extra time where Ohio State pulled off the upset.
I’m not saying that’s going to be the case here, but this is the fastest and most athletic team Clemson has faced. It’ll be interesting to see how the players on the field adjust to it.
Next … Ohio State’s balance on offense
Ohio State can play many ways
One of the reasons Ohio State has been able to win every game this year by double digits is because of its ability to play multiple styles and multiple ways. It can grind it out with J.K. Dobbins and the offensive line, or it can spread teams out and sling the ball around the yard with Justin Fields.
You want to play defense, special teams and field position? It can do that too with an attack that features defense and opportunity with Blake Haubeil and Drue Chrisman.
There are weapons all over the field for Ohio State that can mold into any kind of style and be effective. As long as the Buckeyes have a game plan that matches up with Clemson, it should be able to execute with the right personnel and make it all work.
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