Michael Bennett's senior season took a turn for the better a few weeks ago thanks to a pair of switches -- one he flipped and one the coaching staff made.
In Bennett's case, it was a matter of throwing caution to the wind -- letting go and attacking the line of scrimmage and the ball carrier. For the coaches, it was a matter of giving him a role that allowed him to do just that.
"There were a couple things we did differently that would suit his skill set better, so we made a slight adjustment," co-defensive coordinator Chris Ash said. "A lot of it comes from him. He realized the end is coming. He has aspirations of playing on the next level, which he'll have a chance to do. But he also understands he has to be a better practice player. He's got to study the game more. He's got to be a better leader. Those are the things he's starting to do."
The results were easy to see on the field and the stat sheet. After notching a tackle for loss in each of the Buckeyes' first two games, Bennett had only one over the next six contests. Close observers could tell he was still contributing, still active up front, but he wasn't replicating the production of a year earlier, when the 6-2, 288-pounder finished fourth in the Big Ten with 7.5 sacks and notched 11.5 TFLs.
Then came the biggest game of the regular season for Ohio State, a showdown at Michigan State on Nov. 8 that was circled by just about everyone since last winter. Although the Buckeyes gave up more points and yards than they would like, they also made some timely plays to make sure the offense's 49 points were more than enough. Bennett was in the middle of that, notching two tackles for loss, including a sack. He also forced a fumble and knocked down a pass. He had another TFL a week later at Minnesota and tallied 1.5 against Indiana. Then came one against Michigan to set up the breakout of breakouts.
Ohio State was an underdog against Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game, but the Buckeyes did more than surprise the oddsmakers. They throttled the Badgers 59-0 with Bennett leading the charge for an Ohio State defense that not only shut out the Badgers but almost completely shut down Melvin Gordon, the nation's leading rusher. The Buckeyes often played an extra defender in the box against the Badgers, but Bennett and the defensive line so thoroughly dominated the Wisconsin front he was hardly needed.
Bennett finished the night with four tackles for loss, including a pair of sacks, and he walked out of Lucas Oil Stadium as a Big Ten champion.
So what was the difference? Schematically, it was the coaches' decision to flip Bennett with fellow defensive tackle Adolphus Washington. The senior went back to the "3-technique" role he had filled for much of last season while Washington moved to nose guard. While the latter is often charged with taking on double teams and anchoring the middle of the defense, the 3-technique has more opportunities to blow through gaps and wreak havoc.
"I think I played good football up until Michigan State week, but once they asked me to do just straight three-technique instead, you know, 'Go do what we know you can do,' that made me a lot more comfortable, a lot more confident than playing a new position," he said. "I don't know, I was able to feed off my teammates and we just started gelling and things worked out."
They certainly did, both for Bennett and his teammates, who against Wisconsin looked more like the Silver Bullets of old than they have at any other point in years. They'll need another such performance in the Sugar Bowl next month against an Alabama offense with much greater balance than Wisconsin's, but a front that includes Washington, Steve Miller, All-American end Joey Bosa and Bennett is a good place to start.
"Anytime you're playing your best up front, especially in the heart of your defense in the middle, it's going to help the rest of the defense," Ash said. "About six weeks ago, Michael Bennett flipped a switch and something changed. He's become a much better lead. He's become a much better practice player. He's become a much better game day player. Everyone else has fed off that. He's a senior up there. He's one of our more talented players, one of our best playmakers. When people see him doing the things the right way, the investment he's made in the game of football to help himself continue to get better."
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