With the playoff quickly approaching, I want to take a deep dive into the Ohio State Buckeyes; the team that I believe will win the National Championship when it is all said and done, and a team that is not getting enough national praise compared to LSU and Clemson.
Let’s take a good look at both sides of the ball for the ‘Bucks:
Offense:
Quarterback Justin Fields, who leads the nation with a total of 1 interception on the year – has been phenomenal throughout the season. He has a league best 40:1 touchdown interception ratio. Fields has proven himself as a major deep threat. He has also proven to be one of the league’s best mobile quarterbacks. This makes him one of the most dominant quarterbacks and proves why he was a deserving Heisman finalist.
Ohio State also one of the best running backs in J.K. Dobbins. J.K. Dobbins had an incredible game vs No. 13 ranked Michigan, racking up 211 yards as well as 4 touchdowns; which could be a representation of his entire season, in a game.
K.J. Hill and Chris Olave lead the ‘Bucks receiving core. These guys have been great all year. Olave has proven to be one of the greatest deep threats in all of college football. As a senior, K.J. Hill currently holds all of the school records for receiving yards and touchdowns.
Ohio State ranks 5th out of all college offensive lines. This Offensive line is filled with massive strong men that pave the way for J.K. Dobbins. Wyatt Davis represents Ohio State’s O-Line on the AP All-America team.
Defense:
Statistically, Ohio State’s defense, led by Chase Young and Jeffrey Okudah, and are No. 1 in the nation in a plethora of categories. Ohio State’s defense is ranked No.1 in total defense, as well as No.1 in total points.
Young – the potential top pick in the draft and defensive player of the year – has clearly proven his dominance over all of college football. Chase Young leads the league in sacks with 16.5 as well as forced fumbles with 6. He has done all of this while missing 2 games due to suspension. Chase Young has been selected as the defensive end of the year, the defensive player of the year as well as he is seen as the most dominant force in all of college football.
Ohio State also possesses a strong unit of defensive backs that will propel them over the top. Ohio State’s defensive backs including Jeffrey Okudah and Damon Arnette have limited the pass game all season. Okudah and Arnette have combined for 8 interceptions on the season. Both of these guys have major strengths in both zone and man coverage. Arnette and Okudah as well as their defensive backs will lock up any reciever that comes their way.
For the final treat, OSU has two awesome linebackers in Tuf Borland and Malik Harrison; who will surely be too much to handle alongside the rest of their stellar defensive unit.
. . .
There is a famous phrase, offense wins games, defense wins championships, and it surely applies to this Ohio State team as I believe they have the most complete team of the four contenders for the title, and will come out victorious in the end.
(Photo Credit: Eleven Warriors)
