Jim Knowles’ defense is designed to confuse Ohio State’s opponents on the gridiron, but the revamped scheme has plenty of the Buckeyes’ own offensive players scratching their heads this spring.
While the defense Kerry Coombs manned at the start of 2021 drew criticism for its predictability and reactive nature, Knowles is turning those descriptors on their heads as he installs his own system in Columbus, and it seems to be having the desired effect on the other side of the ball. Multiple Buckeye quarterbacks, including returning Heisman finalist C.J. Stroud, have noted the complexity of Knowles’ scheme, which – if implemented and executed properly – could be the key to national championship contention in 2022.