Ohio State, Big Ten take defensive stance

Associated Press

While No. 2 Ohio State and No. 4 Michigan are among the nation’s top five scoring teams, the Big Ten Conference is just as good on defense.

After the first month of the season, the league has seven of the nation’s top 25 defensive teams in terms of scoring defense, led by No. 8 Wisconsin. The Badgers are seventh, giving up an average of 11.8 points.

Ohio State (12.3 points) is ninth, Iowa (13.5) is tied for 11th, Michigan (13.8) is 13th, Maryland and Northwestern are tied for 22nd at 17 points and Nebraska (18.0) is tied for 25th.

Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald said the conference was in a similar position halfway through last season.

“The defensive coaches in this league are very sound,” he said. “You don’t see typically a lot of guys running uncovered on plays that go for 60, 70 or 80 yards. Most of the defenses have become very sound, team orientated and very athletic, talented and physical.”

Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst said that many coaches have long adhered to the practice of putting their best recruits on defense.

Looking at Michigan’s defense for this weekend, Chryst said there isn’t one player to stop. There are a lot of playmakers.

“You take those good players and you coach them up, so with a good scheme and good players who understand what they are doing, that makes for good defense,” Chryst said.

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh sees the same thing on Wisconsin, which is giving up just 80.5 yards rushing and 277 yards in total.

“I had the pleasure of coaching [former Badger linebacker] Chris Borland in San Francisco, and I say this as the highest form of compliment, it looks like 11 Chris Borlands out there, the way they play,” said Harbaugh, whose team is giving up an average 269.8 yards.

If there is a common link between the better defenses, it’s their ability to force turnovers. All seven teams have a plus figure in the turnover differential, with Ohio State being plus-9.

Surprisingly, the Buckeyes retooled their defense this season after seeing defensive end Joey Bosa and cornerback Eli Apple taken in the first 10 picks of the NFL draft.

Rutgers coach Chris Ash, who was the Ohio State co-defensive coordinator last year, is not surprised the Buckeyes have made the transition.

“Ohio State recruits at a high level, it’s just really reload, the next man in,” he said. “When someone goes to the NFL or their career is over, there is another talented player waiting to burst on the scene and became another Ohio State legend.