The Ohio State Buckeyes ended the 2016 season with a 31-0 ass-thumping to the hands of the eventual National Champion Clemson Tigers. With a new look to the secondary and a revitalized offense the 2017 Buckeyes will look to leave last year behind them and gear up for another championship run.
New Look Secondary
The Buckeyes have a huge task in front of them in trying to replace three first-round defensive backs. Junior safety Damon Webb will be the only returning starter. Although Webb didn’t get the attention that first-round studs Marshon Lattimore, Malik Hooker, and Gareon Conley received, he still had a solid year earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors and returning an interception for a touchdown. As the only returning starter Webb will have to step up as a player and a leader in the Ohio State secondary.
"I would prefer it if you guys referred to him as the third starter at corner because that's what he was," Coombs said earlier this year. We had a true three-man rotation."
And if there is any doubt as to how good Ward can be, Coombs confidence in him is not lacking. "I'm telling you he as good as the other two [Lattimore and Conley]. He doesn't have to say it. I'm telling you that. I think he believes it, he just doesn't have to say it."
Opposite Ward will be redshirt sophomore Damon Arnette. Arnette was mostly used as a nickel corner last year, playing in all 13 games, although early season struggles caused his playing time to dwindle. Despite his struggles last year, the Buckeyes are high on Arnette’s talent, and swagger. Coombs said earlier this summer that Arnette reminds him of a recent Buckeye star.
“He has got charisma, he has got juice,” Coombs said. “He will remind you of Bradley Roby when he’s on the field with the swagger and the way he plays. I love that about him.”
Along with Ward and Arnette Ohio State fans will see a lot of junior college transfer Kendall Sheffield. Sheffield originally committed to Alabama as a five-star recruit but transferred to Blinn College after he redhirted his freshman season. As a highly touted transfer, he committed to Ohio State back in January of this year.
With the addition of Sheffield and growth of Ward and Arnette, the Buckeyes will display a trio of ultra-talented corners to fill the void left by Lattimore and Conley.
Alongside Damon Webb at safety, Jordan Fuller and Erick Smith have been listed as co-starters. Smith is entering his senior season and has the most experience of the two. Fuller is entering his sophomore season and has the most potential to make a Hooker-like impact roaming the secondary.
Perhaps the biggest addition to the Ohio State offense this year is new offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson.
Ever since Tom Herman left Ohio State after the 2014 season, the Buckeyes have lost some of that big-play explosiveness they were known for. In Herman’s final season as offensive-coordinator the Buckeyes had 56 pass plays of 20 yards or more. That is was the most in head coach Urban Meyer’s five years with the Buckeyes. Since then Ohio State has had just 38 in 2015, and 33 in 2016. Anyone who has watched the Buckeyes the last couple years has seen the obvious decline in big-strike pass plays.
Kevin Wilson, who resigned as head coach of Indiana last season, is looking to regain that type of down-field aerial attack for the Buckeyes.
At the same time the Ohio State passing attack was regressing, Wilson’s offense at Indiana was posting seasons of 60 pass plays of 20 yards or more in 2015, and 52 in 2016.
It’s a fast-paced offense. An offense predicated on big play action fakes leading to downfield scores. An offense that will without-a-doubt average more plays per game and more yards per play than the Buckeyes have the past two seasons. An offense that will look to regain the form that won them a National Championship back in 2014.
This Thursday night Wilson will get his chance to showcase his offense against his former team, Indiana.
The Hoosiers are coming off of a 6-7 season which was highlighted by a 24-21 win over then #10 Michigan State in overtime. While typically game one of the season is used to iron out the wrinkles against a lower level opponent, Indiana will not have that luxury this year. They are going to have to hope the Buckeyes have A LOT of wrinkles to iron out and hopefully catch them at the right time. But with Ohio State’s new additions and a bad taste left in their mouth from last season, there may not be a “right time” for any opponent this season.
When coming up with this preview I noticed a theme. I kept remembering the good times of years ago.
I remembered Tom Herman’s offense and big plays downfield.
I remembered Hooker ball hawking and Lattimore and Conley locking guys down.
This season will look to bring us new memories, and hopefully, if just for a moment, make us forget.
What: Ohio State vs. Indiana
When: Thursday 8/31/17, 8:00 PM ET
Where: Bloomington, Indiana
Watch: ESPN Megacast including traditional broadcast on ESPN and six additional viewing experiences including a coaches film room on ESPNEWS and others
Spread: OSU -21.5
Over/Under: 57.5
Money Line: OSU -2000, IU +1250
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