Given the season's disappointing ending and the subsequent departures of stars Chase Young and Jeff Okudah along with co-coordinator Jeff Hafley, it's to forget just how dominant Ohio State's defense was last fall. The 2019 Buckeyes led the nation in total defense, allowing fewer yards-per-game than any OSU squad time since Jim Tressel's 2007 vintage snuck its way into the BCS title game.
Understandably, anxieties ran high as Hafley left for Boston College, as the architect of a redesigned system was gone after less than a year on campus. While his replacement, Kerry Coombs, helped allay some of those fears thanks to his recruiting prowess, unmatched enthusiasm, and track record of producing first-round talents in the secondary, questions remained about his impact on the scheme.