Ohio State Buckeyes preparing for multiple looks of Clemson defense

Clemson has four All-Americans on defense

The Ohio State Buckeyes found a surprise waiting for them Wednesday when they arrived for an early-morning weightlifting session at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.

Santa Claus and his elves brought a little extra spirit to the workout. He even had room on his lap for some of the biggest players.

“What do you want for Christmas,” Santa asked center Pat Elflein in a video posted to Twitter.

“A win,” Elflein said. “A win and an omelette.”

Elflein and his fellow offensive linemen will have to stay hungry for the next week and a half as they get ready for Clemson’s defense. The No. 3 Buckeyes (11-1) play No. 2 Clemson (12-1) in the Fiesta Bowl at 7 p.m. Dec. 31 in Glendale, Ariz., in the College Football Playoff semifinals.

Clemson’s defense features four All-Americans: linebacker Ben Boulware, the team leader in tackles with 114; cornerback Cordrea Tankersley, who has a team-best 10 pass break-ups; defensive tackle Carlos Watkins, who leads the Tigers with 8½ sacks; and defensive end Chrisian Wilkins, who leads the team with 12 tackles for a loss.

Boulware won the Jack Lambert Award, which is given to the nation’s top linebacker. He was named the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Co-Defensive Player of the Year.

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Clemson ranked ninth in the country in total defense (313.9 yards per game) and 12th in scoring defense (18.4 points per game). The Tigers recovered six fumbles and intercepted 18 passes.

“You’ve got to protect the football,” said Ohio State offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Tim Beck. “They’re a very opportunistic offense. They’re going to get their touches. They’re going to get their opportunities. You don’t want to give them any more than they need. You’ve got to be physical. You’ve got to try to take advantage of big plays when the big plays are there. They’re not always there. But when there’s an opportunity to take advantage of that, you’ve got to do it.”

Clemson offered a different look on defense in each of its games this season, Beck said, and the Buckeyes have spent all month getting ready for them all. The preparation continues next week in Arizona. The Buckeyes fly to Phoenix on Monday.

“You want to make sure that you’re sound versus all the looks, and during practice you’ve got to make sure they get all the looks,” Beck said. “You don’t want them to go out there and the first time they see something — a certain blitz or a certain coverage — be like, ‘Well, I never saw that.’”

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Ohio State’s offense counters with a line featuring two first-team All-Americans: Elflein and right guard Billy Price. Elflein won the Rimington Trophy as the nation’s best center. They’re the only returning starters from the Fiesta Bowl last season when Ohio State beat Notre Dame 44-28.

“Honors and the recognitions are great, don’t get me wrong,” Price said. “But you could go out and blow a game and those honors really don’t mean nothing. Just because I’m an All-American or Pat’s a Rimington winner, I still have to block you. They’re going to come after you just as hard.”


NEXT GAME

Ohio State vs. Clemson, 7 p.m., Dec. 31, ESPN, 1410

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