Great analysis. I watched the Ohio State/Oregon game and I will say this Ohio State d-line is pretty dang good. The interior guys are stout and get into the backfield but the edges seem to explode off the snap really well too. I'm not so sure we'll have as many runs up the middle but likely behind the tackles while we're letting the edges come up the field or even the counter plays that Brooks is highlighting in this analysis.
It does seem like we can throw on these guys. Their cornerback number 10 was getting burned on go routes all night. And there were a few big pass plays right around the hashmarks on posts and deep in routes, but I will say Brooks is right about Caleb Downs because most of those pass plays were to the other side of him and he does look like a very instinctual pass defender.
I think at the end of the day, what will win or lose this game for us is how well we protect Nico and/or how well he response to pressure, because I do think they're gonna get there. I feel like the games we struggled in Nico was sacked 4 or 5 times and this OSU pass rush looks really good in that they don't need to blitz much. Dillon Gabriel made some incredible deep ball throws, but dang near every one of them he had a defender right in his face and he just had good composure to make those throws. The good thing is that it feels like Nico has done a better job throwing with pressure in his face in the last couple of games.