COLUMBUS, Ohio -- When Ohio State circled Saturday’s football game against Wisconsin — as early as the end of last season, according to offensive lineman Branden Bowen — they did not yet know what credentials the Badgers would bring.
Even after last Saturday’s stunning upset loss at Illinois, Wisconsin ranks first nationally in total defense (about 30 yards per game better then the runner-up Buckeyes) and first in both passing and rushing defense. By virtue of the four shutouts the Badgers have posted they also rank first in scoring defense — 7.6 to OSU’s 8.0.
According to Bowen, all of the above only enhances the Buckeyes’ anticipation for Saturday.
“It’s always fun to be able to go against the No. 1 defense in the country,” Bowen said. “You don’t get that opportunity very often.”
Wisconsin could threaten Bowen’s linemates and quarterback Justin Fields in a specific way. While Ohio State’s 29 sacks are tied for second-most in the county, the Badgers are only two behind.
Fields took only one sack against Northwestern last Friday — a step forward after eight in the previous three games. Fields said he trusts his connection with his line, which began growing after coach Ryan Day emphasized protections “as soon as I got here.”
“The O line and I are on the same page," Fields said. "We see defenses well and we see who’s coming and who’s not. As long as me and those guys are on the same page I know who they’re blocking and who I have to account for, we should be good.”
Fields said Wisconsin’s 3-4 alignment in and of itself is not an issue. Most of Ohio State’s schedule has consisted of either pure 4-3 schemes or even fronts where one end spot is a linebacker hybrid. Cincinnati called it the “Jack." Indiana called it the “Husky."
Ohio State has played one other pure 3-4 defense this season. You may remember Fields not exactly struggling at Nebraska, totaling 284 yards and four touchdowns as the Buckeyes built a 38-0 halftime lead. He did, however, take three sacks — representing just under 20 percent of the Cornhuskers’ season total. Nebraska ranks 59th nationally in sacks per game, while Wisconsin ranks seventh at 3.86.
On occasion, the Badgers will also switch to a 2-4-5 look, where the combination of coverage and edge rushers puts more pressure on offenses. Defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard employed both looks against OSU in the 2017 Big Ten Championship game.
“We may major in one more than the other throughout the course of the game," Leonhard told reporters this week, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “We always go into a game with a plan for both.”
Wisconsin’s 14.1 percent sack rate per Football Outsiders ranks second only to national champion Clemson (15.0). Through five games, the Badgers had more sacks than they recorded all of last season. In other words, this seems like a week where Fields will need to make some quick decisions. That pressure will also not exclusively come from the edge.
Outside linebacker Zack Baun’s 6.5 sacks rank fourth among Big Ten Conference players. He has earned the nicknames “Sack Zack,” or, if you prefer, “Sack Baun.” The Wisconsin State Journal’s Colton Bartholomew broke down several examples of the technique Baun uses to get to the quarterback.
“Baun does a great job in one-on-one situations,” Day said. “He’s very active, powerful, especially on third down.”
Baun actually ranks second on his team in sacks. Another senior, inside linebacker Chris Orr, is tied for second in the Big Ten with eight. Those have all come in the last four games, including three in the loss at Illinois. He is breaking through after losing a season to a torn ACL and playing behind current NFL linebackers Ryan Connelly and T.J. Edwards.
Go ahead and throw sophomore inside linebacker Jack Sanborn and his 3.5 sacks into the mix as well.
Day saw protection issues he still wants to clean up after Northwestern. However, not every sack taken by his quarterback is equal to the others. Occasionally Fields may take a sack when he holds on the ball to allow a play to develop.
“He works through his reads,” Day said. “Then there’s times where he wants to extend and create. That’s okay, too. It’s not the end of the world.”
Based on the Badgers’ first seven games, those reads may need to come a little faster on Saturday.
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