Biggest Key To The Northwestern Wildcats Defense
The veteran defense has to come up with more big plays. The 2018 defense was a takeaway machine at times, coming up with 26 on the season with two or more in seven games.
Last year the defense came up with multiple takeaways in five games, but it only generated six turnovers in the final eight games and went through a four-game stretch with no turnovers. It only came up with one fumble recovery over the final eight games.
The program has won its last 11 games when it came up with three turnovers or more. Considering the offense isn’t going to be 2019 LSU all of a sudden, the defense is going to have to do its part to give the other side more easy chances.
Biggest Key To The Ohio State Buckeyes Defense
It has to be Next Guy Up in the secondary … fast. Even by Ohio State’s amazing standards, the pass Defense
was something special last season.
It allowed 259 yards and two touchdowns to Trevor Lawrence in the College Football Playoff loss to Clemson, but that’s the cost of doing business – the pass D wasn’t exactly ripped up.
The Buckeyes gave up just nine touchdown passes with 15 picks on the year, and Lawrence was the only one who hit them with double-digit touchdown passes. And now …
Jeff Okudah is a Detroit Lion, Damon Arnette went to the Raiders with the 19th overall pick, and Jordan Fuller was selected by the Rams.
Fortunately, Shaun Wade is back to step in at corner – he could work at safety if needed – and there’s more than enough talent returning to be okay. However, the date at Oregon comes up in the second week of the season, and the pass Defense
has to be ready to be special again.