COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State football’s secondary has not been healthy since about one week into preseason camp, at best.
That could change over the next two weeks — the second of which includes the “bye” week in the Buckeyes’ Big Ten schedule.
For Saturday at Michigan State, however, the health report remains tenuous. One starter is compromised, one may remain on the sideline, and one key reserve will definitely be kept in bubble wrap for another week.
Both coach Ryan Day and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, though, see an improving situation in the defensive backfield.
• Cam Brown could play Saturday after missing the past two games with a still-unspecified injury. The senior started Ohio State’s first three games and several last season, when healthy.
In the span of three sentences, Day described Brown as “itching,” “stressing” and “dying” to get back on the field.
“I don’t think anybody’s more frustrated than he is,” Day said. “So hopefully this is a great week of work and we can get him back on the field this week.”
Another week without Brown would presumably keep JK Johnson in the starting lineup, with freshman Jyaire Brown as a reserve.
• Day and Knowles both credited Denzel Burke for pushing to get back on the field quickly from a “procedure” for an injured right hand. While the injury cost him the Wisconsin game, Burke started and played nearly the entire game against Rutgers. Day considered that proof of the sophomore’s toughness.
Knowles said hand injuries are difficult for cornerbacks, because they are constantly jamming receivers at the line of scrimmage or batting away passes. So this is currently one more thing for Burke to fight through as he seeks to find more consistency on the field.
“He’s been right there for a lot of these plays — he just hasn’t quite finished,” Day said. “That’s an area that he’s got to work on, but the good news is, he’s right there.”
• After a few weeks of maybe/maybe not on Jordan Hancock’s status, Day spoke with more certainty Tuesday. The redshirt freshman has returned in full to practice. However, he will not play at Michigan State so OSU can use the bye week to allow him to more fully heal from the lower leg injury he suffered in preseason camp.
The Buckeyes are targeting a return date of Oct. 22 against Iowa for a player originally expected to play a big role.
“He’s full speed, yes,” Day said of Hancock’s practice status. “… But it’s still sort of too weak at this point.”
• Neither coach offered an update on starting nickel safety Tanner McCalister, who left the Rutgers game with injury, or his backup, Cam Martinez, who was listed as unavailable.
In their absence, freshman Kye Stokes played the bulk of the game before yielding to classmate Sonny Styles late.
“Kye had a solid game,” Knowles said. “Here’s a true freshman (who) really has not had many reps at that nickel position. We had to make that adjustment during the week and, trying to look ahead, get him in there at different times. You’re forced in a situation. Young guy has to step up, I thought he held his own.”
• Knowles also said safety Kourt Williams III has not played more in part because he is “not completely healthy.” The captain has played 42 snaps and was not a bigger part of the game plan against run-heavy teams such as Notre Dame or Wisconsin.
“Kourt has been banged up,” Knowles said. “He’s had some things going on, and it hasn’t given him a chance to fully compete to earn a position.”
What’s next?
So the short-term prognosis is good, as long as by short-term you mean later this month.
The immediate issue is whether Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne and his receiving corps — led by Jayden Reed and Keon Coleman — can take advantage of a depleted OSU secondary.
A year ago, the Spartans’ passing attack ranked third among Big Ten teams in yards per attempt (8.2) and fifth in quarterback efficiency (147.12). Solid numbers, though not elite.
However, that production has fallen back as teams no longer need to respect the MSU run game to the extent they did with Kenneth Walker III last season. The Spartans rank ninth in both of those stats above at 7.0 and 135.67. Thorne’s six interceptions lead all Big Ten players after he threw only 10 in 13 games last season.
Cornerback has been the most vulnerable spot in the OSU secondary for pretty much the entire season. Yet no opponent has exploited it well enough to keep its offense on the field and keep up with what C.J. Stroud and his receivers are doing to opposing defenses.
After allowing 7.7 yards per attempt and 6.9 last season, the Buckeye defense has further whittled that number to 6.2 — barely outside the national top 25. More improvement could follow if that midseason break helps a handful of players return to and stay on the field.
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