Northwestern Will Help Ohio State, Justin Fields Prep for Wisconsin
While one-win Northwestern looms as the final tasty appetizer in No. 4 Ohio State's path before its main course next weekend against sixth-ranked Wisconsin, the Wildcats might actually serve as a useful dress rehearsal for OSU in one aspect.
Head coach Pat Fitzgerald hopes to ride an experienced defense that at times frustrated the Buckeyes in the Big Ten Championship Game last December before two late touchdowns preserved their 45-24 victory.
Nine starters are back from that unit, which although gashed early in Indianapolis, figured things out for awhile in the second half to allow a Northwestern rally from a 17-point halftime deficit to within 24-21 in the third quarter and then 31-24 with 11 minutes left.
Although the Wildcats' offense is dreadful -- 125th in the nation in yards gained -- there's still some salt left in their defense.
Not as much salt as the resistance Wisconsin's No. 1-ranked unit figures to offer, but still a respectable test for an Ohio State offense averaging 49 points and 535 yards per-game.
"Really that whole defense is back from last year," OSU coach Ryan Day said. "Pat is as good a coach as there is in the country. That’s documented. It’s hard to find a yard against them. I think they’re a top 30 defense in the country. I believe they held Wisconsin under 300 total yards. I mean, they’re good.
In a 25-15 loss at Wisconsin three weeks ago, Northwestern allowed only one offensive touchdown and held tailback Jonathan Taylor to 111 rushing yards on 26 carries.
"They know exactly how you’re trying to attack them," Day said. "They make adjustments. It’s a defense that’s been around for a long time, and they know exactly what you’re doing. They’re sound in what they do they can they can."
Northwestern ranks 26th nationally in yards allowed, permitting 318 per-game.
Stanford, Nebraska and Wisconsin all beat the Wildcats while scoring just one offensive touchdown apiece.
It's difficult to envision OSU being similarly stonewalled, given quarterback Justin Fields' ability to hurt teams rushing and throwing.
Fields has accounted for 26 touchdowns, and has scored via the run and the pass in each game.
While he averages less than 50 yards per-game on the ground, he averages 5 yards per-carry and can break free any time.
He scored on a 51-yard sprint in the season-opener and helped break open a struggle with Michigan State two weeks ago with a 35-yard scramble that forced the Spartans to adjust, thus opening up other avenues for the Buckeyes.
"We know he can scramble, but we have a game plan for that," Northwestern cornerback Greg Newsome said. "Our defensive line is going to do things. They know he's trying to get out of the pocket. We're going to stop that."
The Wildcats' chief concerns should be tailback J.K. Dobbins, No. 2 nationally at 137.7 yards per-game, and backup Master Teague, who's rushed for more than half (416) as many yards as Dobbins' 826.
Fields can choose from any of 10 teammates who've each caught at least one touchdown.
"We're trying to give the quarterback different looks so he can't drop back and know where we're going to be and pick us apart," Northwestern defensive end Joe Gaziano said. "That includes the linebackers and the D-line being in different spots and not allowing the protection to key in on where we're going to be.
"...In our base defense we have four down (linemen) and they have five offensive linemen. So there's an extra gap somewhere. We have to be physical and collapse the pocket and make sure we cover the side door."
