Even during obvious struggles from the Ohio State secondary in 2020, the calling card of the past two Buckeye defenses has been its ability to stop the run.
Two games into the 2021 season, and particularly after Saturday’s performance in a 35-28 loss to the Ducks, run defense might just be the Buckeyes’ biggest concern this year, and it has already cost them dearly.
The secondary certainly had lapses of its own, but while starting cornerbacks Denzel Burke and Cameron Brown routinely challenged Oregon wideouts deep down field – tallying four of Ohio State’s nine pass breakups in the process – the Ducks ran all over Ohio State’s defensive line and linebacker corps in Columbus on Saturday.