Going into last season, Ohio State’s coaching staff suggested that the Buckeyes’ new defense would include a variety of packages and alignments that could change frequently. Instead, the Buckeyes ended up keeping their base defense on the field far more often than not.
That base defense, in a change from previous seasons, put three cornerbacks and one deep safety playing centerfield – instead of two cornerbacks and two safeties – along with two defensive ends, two defensive tackles and three linebackers.
While Ohio State continued to tease the possibility of also using two-safety packages, it rarely actually did so until the final game of the season against Clemson.