Ohio State's D-line depth bodes well for CFP run: 'The competition is through the roof'
With the College Football Playoff expanding, depth is more important than ever — especially on the D-line. Ohio State is well positioned. Ohio State's defensive line coach, Larry Johnson, has expressed confidence in the team's depth ahead of the upcoming CFP season, stating that the competition within the team is "through the roof" and that it is one of the deepest and most talented defensive lines in Johnson's coaching career. The team's decision to return to Columbus in 2024 was particularly welcomed by Johnson, who believes this is a sign that the College Football Playoff will expand its reach. The depth of the team has put Johnson in a difficult time with rotational football, with only five defensive linemen having more than 200 snaps last year. The College Football Football Playoff is expanding to 16 or 17 games, and Johnson and the players are preparing to expand the rotation this spring.
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COLUMBUS, Ohio — Larry Johnson is entering his 11th year as Ohio State’s defensive line coach. In that time, he’s seen his fair share of elite linemen come in and out of the program. Few groups can stack up with what has returned to Columbus in 2024.
As last season progressed, it became obvious that if Jack Sawyer, JT Tuimoloau and Tyleik Williams wanted to leave for the NFL, they’d be no later than Day 2 picks. But although Michael Hall Jr. declared for the draft, the other three chose to return. Those decisions thrilled Johnson, who now has one of the deepest and most talented defensive lines in his coaching career, especially at end. It’s a rotation that may be as good as any Johnson has coached, at least since the 2017 line headlined by Nick Bosa, Chase Young, Sam Hubbard, Tyquan Lewis and Jalyn Holmes.
“That group was a veteran group,” Johnson said before admitting that this year’s team has more depth.
The depth has put Johnson in a predicament when trying to figure out the rotation.
Last year, Ohio State didn’t rotate much. Per TruMedia, only five defensive linemen had more than 200 snaps: Tuimoloau (658), Williams (628), Sawyer (595), Hall (399) and Hamilton (342). Kenyatta Jackson Jr. (167) and Caden Curry (162) were next. That’s after eight defensive linemen played at least 200 snaps in 2022.
Although it may seem easy to say the stars need to play, that can’t be the case if Ohio State wants to be successful this year and beyond. With the College Football Playoff expanding a national championship season to 16 or 17 games and the amount of talent on the bench, Johnson and the players are preparing this spring to expand the rotation.
“They understand we have to rotate and do it early in the season to get to the end of the season,” Johnson said.
So how deep can Ohio State be?
Jackson was one of the most talked about players a year ago in spring practice. He stood out every time he touched the field, dominating offensive linemen in front of him. The expectation leaving the spring was that Jackson was going to be one of the breakout defensive players in the fall. That never happened.
He finished the season with six tackles and one sack. Though his snaps were the most among the reserve defensive ends, they were significantly lower than the starting duo of Tuimoloau and Sawyer. That weighed on him at times. Standing on the sideline wasn’t what the Florida native expected out of himself last season.
“I felt like I should’ve been in the rotation more,” Jackson said. “But God has his plans for me.”
Tuimoloau and Sawyer shined, combining for 86 tackles and 11.5 sacks. Still, Jackson felt his turn was coming. He was presumably going to take over a starting role once Tuimoloau and/or Sawyer left. When they returned, it kept Jackson and Curry back down the depth chart.
Instead of taking the natural progression into a third-year impact player, they were going to have to wait another year or transfer. Jackson said he never considered the latter.
“There was no doubt in my mind that this is home,” Jackson said. “When they told me, I was excited. Their class hasn’t beaten the team up north or won a natty, my class either — doing that together will be icing on the cake.”
Though he didn’t elaborate, Jackson said he had a good conversation with Johnson about his feelings last year and they came up with a plan for this season.
“He has all the skill set,” Johnson said. “Now, can you be consistent with doing what you’re supposed to do?”
That lack of consistency is what kept players like Johnson and Curry from rotating in more often.
“I wasn’t quite ready to throw those guys in last year and go battle,” Johnson said. “You gotta be smart. You don’t want to put them in a position where they’re handicapped, and by that, I mean failing and feeling like they let everybody down. … I’m really good about not putting freshmen in a position where they feel like they have a chance to fail. I want them to be successful.”
That can’t be the case this season and Ohio State knows it. It’s been intentional about preparing its rotational players, giving them more starter reps in practice than in previous years.
“They have to play 35 to 30 plays a game and do it early. That’s the plan,” Johnson said. “They are going against the one guys because the only way they get better is going against the best.”
The rotation on the edge is largely figured out already. Tuimoloau and Sawyer will start, but expect a healthy dose of Jackson, Curry and even Mitchell Melton. There will be times when Ohio State’s “Rushmen” package uses three or four of them at a time because of how deep this group is.
The interior rotation is a bit murky after the top two of Williams and Ty Hamilton, but there is a plethora of names in the mix: Hero Kanu, Kayden McDonald, Jason Moore and Tywone Malone.
“The competition is through the roof,” Jackson said. “From last season to this spring it’s a huge jump for all of those guys.”
In an 18-minute availability on Tuesday, Johnson was asked about more than 10 names who could contribute this season. That’s a good problem to have for the veteran coach, who knows talent isn’t the issue up front.
The goal is trying to get everybody up to speed so Ohio State has not only the top-line talent needed to chase a national championship, but the depth to make it deep into January.
“We have a chance to play 17 games and we’ve never done that before,” Johnson said. “Early in the season, we may play a lot more young players to make sure we get to the stretch.”
주제: Football, College Sports