Ohio State seems to have figured some things out on defense over the past few weeks, but a rigid 11-man starting lineup is not one of them.
In six games so far this season, the Buckeyes have utilized five different defensive starting lineups. In fact, only two players – Ronnie Hickman and Denzel Burke – have started every game on defense this year. Some of those week-to-week changes have been due to injuries, but several others have been the result of the Ohio State coaching staff searching for the right answer at a given position.
While Ryan Day and defensive play caller Matt Barnes have previously said they hoped to solidify certain spots as the season wears on, defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs said Tuesday that lineups will likely continue to vary depending on the matchup.