Ohio State Football: How can the Buckeyes replace Marshon Lattimore?
After loosing three players in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft, how will Ohio State football rebuild its top ranked secondary?
Ohio State’s 2016 defense was one of the best in college football.
The squad ranked fourth in total defense, sixth against the pass, and intercepted 19 passes en route to an 11-2 record.
With 15 starters returning from the 2016 squad, the 2017 Buckeyes squad could be even better, but it’s not without its holes.
Three of Ohio State’s star defensive backs, cornerback Marshon Lattimore, cornerback Gareon Conley and saftey Malik Hooker, heard their names called in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. While losing so many talented players from one position group could be extremely worrisome for some teams, it’s nothing new for the Buckeyes faithful.
Since Urban Meyers arrived in Columbus in 2012, there have been six Ohio State defensive backs taken in the first two rounds of the NFL draft, but never before has the team lost three starters in one off-season.
If Ohio State wants to continue to build upon the foundation set by last season’s Buckeyes squad it will need to assimilate new players into the secondary to play along side it’s lone returning starter, senior strong safety Damon Webb.
Replacing Marshon Lattimore
Marshon Lattimore was arguably Ohio State’s best cornerback last season.
Prior to 2016, Lattimore only appeared in seven games as a reserve red-shirt freshman during the 2015 campaign, predominantly serving as a back up for future first round pick Eli Apple.
After Apple left Columbus for the NFl, the Buckeyes needed to find a new cornerback to lineup across from incumbent starter Gareon Conley. The team pitted Marshon against true sophomore Denzel Ward, a four-star recruit from Macedonia, Ohio, with Marshon ultimately getting the nod to start.
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Lattimore appeared in all 13 games for the 2016 Buckeyes, logging 40 tackles, nine pass breakups, four interceptions and scoring a touchdown as the teams right cornerback. Opposing quarterbacks logged only a 30.2 quarterback rating while throwing in Marshon’s direction, one of the best marks in college football.
After the season ended Marshon Lattimore left Ohio State for the NFL, being selected 10th overall by the New Orleans Saints.
Lattimore’s combination of size, speed and range allowed Ohio State’s defense to shut down opposing offenses and allowed the team’s front-seven to rack up 27 sacks. If the Buckeyes defensive backfield is going to continue to dominate receivers in 2017 they will need to replace Marshon’s production.
Enter Denzel Ward
After losing out to Marshon Lattimore in Ohio State’s 2016 cornerback competition, Denzel Ward could very well end up replacing him in 2017.
While Denzel didn’t start for the Buckeyes last season, he did appear in all 13 games and played 468 defensive snaps. Ward logged 23 tackles and nine passes, defended as Ohio State’s third outside corner, and could build upon this stat line in the forthcoming season.
Much like Lattimore, Denzel Ward is a great athlete.
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Denzel Ward is listed at 5-foot-10 and weighs 191 pounds. Before he arrived in Columbus, Ward was clocked running a 4.31 40-yard dash, and during the team’s 2015 Fiesta Bowl game Denzel ran a blazing 21.8 miles per hour while on Ohio State’s kick coverage team.
In addition to his athletic ability, Ward is also incredibly skilled in coverage.
While he has yet to intercept a pass as a Buckeye, Denzel only allowed 15 catches on 42 targets in 2016 and unlike Lattimore and Conley, he didn’t give up a touchdown in coverage.
When evaluating his game film Denzel Ward looks like a starting cornerback.
Denzel has loose hips and is constantly around the ball. Ward’s deep speed allows him to keep close to his receiver and his long arms and aggressive tendencies turn every catch into a contact sport, much like former OSU stand out Bradley Roby.
Like Roby, Ward is 5-foot-11 with long arms, track speed and agressive tendencies.
Ohio State plays their corners in press man coverage on a consistent basis, so having an aggressive corner with with long arms and track speed is essential to set up the pass rush and prevent long touchdowns.
Even if opposing receivers did make the contested catch, Ward did not shy away from delivering the big hit on the ball carrier. While Denzel is great in man coverage, some NFL scouts may forgo the Roby comparisons in favor of another former buckeyes standout; OSU corner turned Eagles safety Malcom Jenkins. Ward’s athletic ability, aggressiveness and field vision could eventually make him an incredibly versatile safety if his hands hinder his effectiveness on the outside.
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Denzel Ward’s athletic ability, playing experience and and junkyard dog mentality on the field should allow him to take over Ohio State’s number one cornerback position next season, and could ultimately make him the team’s next first round draft pick. If Ward is able to intercept more passes 2017 and maintain his dominance in coverage, he very well could be the best player in Ohio State’s retooled secondary.