Some 11W articles and forum posts communicate a desire for Ohio State to field an "okay" defense.
Based on results from the six games played, it's easy to see that the defense has improved over the 2021 performance. Yet, you may be surprised that at mid-season, the Buckeye D has performed in line with its top ranked 2019 version. That's the conclusion of an analysis of seasonal statistics (points and yardage) yielded to opponents compared with those opponents' seasonal averages against other teams.
Points Allowed
Through six games this season, the Buckeyes have surrendered 94 total points. However, for purposes of evaluating the defense, we exclude 14 points from the Spartans pick-6 and the Rutgers TD following the muffed punt. Others may have a different opinion, but I do not consider those points accountable to the defense. In fairness, I apply the same method when evaluating other teams and their seasons. Anyhow, the 80 net points yielded by the defense averages 14.60 per game. In games against other teams, opponents have scored an average 38.18. The 2022 Ohio State defense has held opponents to 42.5% of their season-to-date average.
Through the first six games in 2019, the Buckeyes surrendered just 53 net points or impressively 29.9% of the opponents' scoring average. The 2019 schedule got more difficult in the second half of that season. For the full season, that team yielded 13.71 points per game which was 49.5% of opponents' seasonal average.
Opponents on Ohio State's remaining 2022 schedule have scored fewer points than the teams it played in the first half (Thanks Iowa! and Northwestern ... and Indiana). If Ohio State continues to hold opponents to 42.5% of their season averages and those opponents continue to score at the same pedestrian rate on offense, the Buckeyes would yield only 11.83 points per game from here. That scenario would yield 13.32 for the season, a bit better than 2019.
Yardage Allowed
Through six games this season, the Buckeyes have surrendered 1521 total yards. That includes 559 rushing and 962 passing. The defense has yielded 270.7 total yards per game. Against other teams, opponents have 447.7 yards total offense per game average. Here, Ohio State has held opponents to 60.4% of their seasonal yardage production.
Through the first six games in 2019, the Buckeyes surrendered 1408 total yards (496 rushing and 912 passing) or 54.7% of the opponents' average yards per game. For the full 2019 season, that defense yielded just 260.0 total yards per game which was 60.9% of opponents' seasonal average.
As with the scoring trends, opponents on Ohio State's remaining 2022 schedule have less offensive production than the teams it has already played. Even giving another nod to Iowa, the remaining teams just haven't moved the ball as much. Excluding Iowa, the five other opponents have only 408.3 yards total offense per game average. Adding Iowa brings that average down to 390.9 yards. If Ohio State continues to hold opponents to 60.4% of their season averages and those opponents repeat their plodding offensive production, the Buckeyes would yield just 236.3 yards per game from here. For the season as a whole, that scenario would yield 254.8 per game, again better than 2019.
The Buckeyes 2022 defense has exceeded the "okay" expectations. If it continues to improve, it conceivably could meet Coach Knowles' "top 5" expectations. If so, Buckeyes players and coaches should find a lot of confetti in the laundry in mid January.
Apologies. I was planning to include charts for illustration, but the image insertion tool is not working presently.
Statistics and analysis based on data from https://www.sports-reference.com.
