Senior defensive tackle James Smith and his line mates are ready to take on Texas on Saturday no matter how hot it is. (Press Pros Feature Photos by Angie Greenwood)
Controlling Texas’ talented quarterback with containment, pressure and sacks – especially sacks – is an undeniable part of the game plan and a key to victory.
Columbus, OH – Post-practice sweat dripped from James Smith as he discussed the readiness he and his Ohio State teammates feel for Saturday night’s showdown at Texas.
No. 1 Ohio State at No. 4 Texas is not just another game, and Smith didn’t try to act like it is.
He displayed a confident and jovial mood, one of love for season-defining games like this, an appreciation formed playing for Alabama. The heat will be oppressive, but Smith is a senior and has been through many similar days. He expects he and his fellow defensive linemen will be prepared to show their depth, their will and their pursuit of quarterback Arch Manning.
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The matchup of Ohio State’s defensive line, full of new, yet experienced faces, is one to watch against Texas’ revamped offensive line that hasn’t been strong enough to overpower the Buckeyes the past two seasons.
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Smith’s assessment of the Texas line after watching their first game against Texas State.
“Good physical linemen,” he said. “You know, nice linemen … just Saturday, 7 o’clock.”
Smith is clearly ready for his group to be a difference maker. “How confident?”
He looked down at the table, expressionless, seriously considering what he should say.
The look, if we could see under his helmet on game day, probably resembled the one he has when he looks down to put his hand in the turf before a snap, seriously intent on getting to the quarterback.
Then he looked up … ready to play.
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“Man, it’s on, Saturday at 7 o’clock,” Smith began. “They’re gonna spot the ball … all the talking and stuff ain’t gonna really get nobody nowhere until we spot the ball. We both respect each other … like, enough is enough. It’s about the time to go on and handle it.”
Most of the talk around this game is about quarterbacks – Ohio State’s Julian Sayin and Manning – and if the Texas defense can take Ohio State’s best player, wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, out of the game again. Smith’s line in two games against Texas: seven receptions for 46 yards. The Buckeyes won both times anyway.
Ohio State linebacker Christian Alliegro was impressed with the way the defensive line applied pressure to Ball State.
The D line’s day, and the game, could well be defined by its ability to control Manning. They handled his debut in last season’s opener in Columbus, but Manning improved as the season progressed and expectations are high for him this year.
“He’s super athletic, really good player,” said linebacker and Wisconsin transfer Christian Alliegro. “We’re going to have to do a really good job of containing him, keeping him in the pocket.”
Last year the Buckeyes contained Washington quarterback Demond Williams. They talked about keeping him in a cage, and he never found a way out. To keep Manning caged, especially in key situations, will go a long way toward victory. The ends and blitzing linebackers are part of it, but if the tackles push their way into the pocket, Manning’s comfort will disappear.
“They did a good job against Ball State kicking those guys back,” Alliegro said of the tackles. “That’s something we’re really going to need this Saturday.”
In the opening 56-3 win over Ball State, defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr. led power 4 players with eight quarterback pressures. But no sacks. This week, he wants to put Manning on ground.
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“Some of those pressures could have been sacks for sure, and this upcoming week I’m going to finish those plays for sure,” Jackson Jr. said. “The pressures, it’s a good thing, but it doesn’t really mean nothing. The sacks do.”
Jackson Jr. blamed his technique. He saw the evidence watching the Ball State video.
“I tend to dive a little bit too much when I don’t have to,” he said. “I need to stay on my feet and run through the player.”
James Smith got to Ball State’s Keldric Luster on this play but was penalized for a horse-collar tackle.
The rotating group of tackles dominated Ball State and disrupted the quarterback, too. Smith, who transferred this year from Alabama, felt like Jackson Jr. did about his Ball State performance.
“I missed countless sacks,” he said. “It’s just me understanding now that it takes a different type of mindset to go really get a quarterback down. Quarterbacks don’t want to go down. I feel like that’s the hardest position to tackle. I feel like you got to really have that mindset – I got to get him.”
John Walker, another transfer, threw the center into the quarterback on one play.
“I’ve seen him do that countless times, so it’s really nothing new,” Smith said. “It’s just him bringing it.”
Another end who brought it was freshman Khary Wilder. He chased down the quarterback to help force the interception to linebacker T.J. Alford.
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“Definitely a weapon, definitely explosive guy, very relentless,” Smith said. “I feel like he refuses to be denied.”
Smith respects quarterbacks like Manning and Ball State’s Keldric Luster, who at 250 pounds was a tough tackle. Sneak attacks, he said, don’t work. Like Jackson Jr. said, the mindset has to be to run through Manning.
Linebacker Arvell Reese hauls down Arch Manning for the Buckeyes’ only sack in last year’s game.
“You think they don’t see us? Realize how big we are,” Smith said. “They see us. We are in scarlet, we’re 6-6. He see you, bro.”
To prepare for Manning, who is 6-foot-4 and 222 pounds, defensive coordinator Matt Patricia used film of former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger as a training video. Big Ben played at 6-5, 240 pounds. He completed a lot of passes with defenders draped around his waist and legs. Yes, it’s nice to have a DC who coached a long time in the NFL.
“If you go for his leg, he’s just going to run out of that,” Alliegro said. “So you have to grab them. Coach P was showing us a blitz of how they would tackle Big Ben back in the day. It’s one of those things you got to wrap them high. So no diving this week for sure.”
Smith got one thing wrong. Kickoff in Austin on Saturday is 6:30 p.m. Central time. Not 7.
But he won’t be late to kickoff, or to the quarterback, if he gets his way.
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