When Urban Meyer watched his defense get torched by Michigan, Michigan State and Clemson to end the 2013 season, he knew he had to make some serious changes in order to make a championship a possibility.
With former co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Everett Withers leaving Columbus to become head coach at James Madison University, Meyer rang Chris Ash and convinced him to take his place.
Ash brought the Cover 4, press quarters system with him to Ohio State, implementing it in the spring of 2014, enduring some bumps and bruises early in the season then thriving down the stretch as the Buckeyes won the national title.
"Words can't even describe how far we've come. It's a completely different unit. Each player is better, each unit is better, the overall Silver Bullet defense is better."– Chris Ash
Now, in Year 2 of a new scheme on the back end, Ash struggles to put a tangible word to how far he's seen the secondary grow in his time at Ohio State.
"Words can't even describe how far we've come. It's a completely different unit," Ash said Monday after practice. "Each player is better, each unit is better, the overall Silver Bullet defense is better."
The Buckeyes let some big plays happen early in 2014 against Gunner Kiel and Cincinnati, but then grew together and played better than ever before during head coach Urban Meyer's three-year tenure.
"I think our defense from the last three games was the best I've ever witnessed," Meyer said Saturday. "Obviously we had some growing pains because we grew up the secondary and changed dramatically what we were doing. Very systematic approach. I love where we're at."
Meyer's raved about what Ash and Luke Fickell have done together since Ash left Bret Bielema and Arkansas prior to 2014. The starters at Ash's position group, have noticed the transition, too, and how intense he is leading the unit.
In fact, they enjoy it.
"Well, me and him still go at it every day," Tyvis Powell said Monday. "He expects so much from me. It’s like, even if it’s like the littlest thing. Nothing’s going to be perfect with him. It’s just the thing where I respect why he’s doing it, because he doesn’t want us to become complacent.
"I feel like if you and coach ain’t battling at some point in time, he’s doing a bad time coaching or he gave up on you. So I’m glad that he’s doing it."
The Buckeyes as an entire team must avoid complacency if they wish to return to the Big Ten Championship Game and beyond in 2015, and even though the defense improved mightily in Year 1 of the new press coverage scheme, there's still room for improvement.
"The goal is to be the best defense in the country," Vonn Bell said. "Get the Silver Bullets back like Coach Fickell says every day, go out there and challenge everything, eliminate all mistakes, play for each other and have fun."
Added Ash: "We want to get back to that level we were at in January. It's going to take a little bit more time. We're working hard at it. Hopefully it wasn't beginner's luck last year, but our players believe in it, our coaches believe in it. It was beneficial for us last year and hopefully it will continue to be this year."
