Ohio State’s defense has struggled immensely in 2021. That is what they call a massive understatement. However, this season is still in its infancy, and the reality is this: Kerry Coombs — and his staff, to a certain extent — has had the deck stacked against him (or them). Coombs’ first offseason as the defensive coordinator was upended by a pandemic. The Buckeyes struggled in 2020, resulting in one of the worst defensive showings in program history.
Many of the issues that plagued OSU last year, have rolled over into the 2021 season. The staff did have a full offseason to prepare, but this time around, they were dealing with inexperience and turnover at numerous positions.