3 areas Jack Sawyer must improve to reach a new level for the Buckeyes: Film Review

By Lance Reisland CLEVELAND, Ohio — At 6-foot-4 and 267 pounds, Jack Sawyer, the former Pickerington 5-star defensive end, looks the part as a potential star for the Ohio State defense. He has an incredibly explosive first step, outstanding short area quickness, and quick feet. He plays with a great motor, but does not bend around the corner like some of the high-level defensive ends. This lack of bend is confirmed with only seven sacks in two years. Sawyer, along with 6-4, 270-pound J.T. Tuimoloau, 6-2, 290-pound Michael Hall Jr., and 6-3, 318-pound Tyliek Williams, make up one of the most physically gifted defensive lines in the country. In fact, with linebacker Tommy Eichenberg, cornerbacks Denzel Burke and Jordan Hancock, and safeties Lathan Ransom and Josh Proctor, the Buckeyes have eight draftable players on that side of the ball. Here are three ways Sawyer can separate himself from his teammates and take his game to the next level: 1. More splash plays Sawyer has to start producing more game-changing plays to take his game to the next level. He has to get to the quarterback, cause strip sacks, create fumbles, tip passes, produce interceptions, and generally become a game wrecker. He has to make the opposing offensive coordinators pay for not accounting for him on every play. Tuimoloau’s game against Penn State last season, is a great example of being a complete game wrecker. The Buckeye defensive end had six tackles, two sacks, three tackles for a loss, two interceptions, one touchdown, one pass break up, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. For Sawyer to make a larger impact, he has to be a complete three-down defender and stay on the field for more snaps. Through his first two years, the Buckeye defensive end has appeared in 25 games, but only has 486 snaps for an average of 19.44 per game. To be a star at any position a player must be on the field more than 20 snaps, or roughly one third of the available defensive plays. Below are some of the impact plays from Tuimoloau against Penn State from the 2022 season. These are the type of game-changing plays Sawyer must make to reach the next level of success. Tuimoloau with a deflected pass that results in an interception. Tuimoloau with a strip sack and fumble recovery. Tuimoloau drops into coverage and demonstrates great balls skills with an interception in space. Tuimoloau pushes down the chop block and jumps for interception returned for a touchdown. 2. Better with his hands Sawyer has played multiple positions for the Buckeyes in his first two seasons. For new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, he played a true defensive end in their four-down front, and a variety of positions in their three-down front. He has lined up with his hand in the dirt in a three-point stance and standing in a two-point stance from either the inside or outside linebacker spots. From all spots, Sawyer must use his hands better to engage and disengage the offensive blockers in front of him. By letting the offensive player gets his hands on him first, he becomes stuck and is unable to make any plays. Below is an example of Sawyer not using hands very well in a pass rush against Michigan right tackle, Karsen Barnhart. Sawyer will speed rush and get cut off from the edge by Barnhart. But Sawyer is unable to transition from speed to power, and Barnhart gets his hands on first. Barnhart is then able to extend Sawyer and push him by quarterback J.J. McCarthy. The Michigan signal caller easily steps up and throws a 45-yard touchdown to tight end Colston Loveland. Below the pictures is a clip of the same play. Below, Sawyer, who is in a modified linebacker position, does not use his hands on a 75-yard touchdown run from Donovan Edwards. Sawyer and Eichenberg get caught inside and blocked by the Wolverine offensive line. By not using their hands, they do not create any extension and do not see Edwards as he runs through the hole. Below the pictures is clip of the same play. 3. Diagnose plays quicker On film, sometimes Sawyer is slow to recognize plays from an opposing offense. To start, using his hands and arms to create great extension on the offensive player will allow him to see what is coming. Along with his hands, more game repetitions and film study will allow Sawyer to diagnose offensive schemes. Down and distance, best offensive player, best plays from formations, red zone tendencies, run or pass tendencies, and location of football according to hash marks are just a few ideas that can help a player be a student of the game. Below is a very general rule for all defensive ends at any level of football. Northwestern will be running the football to the left. The right guard will pull to his left and the right tackle will step down to protect the open B-gap. On this particular play, Sawyer will just run up field looking for a sack. He must read the feet of the right tackle and step down as the right tackle steps down. This will protect C-gap and make it much harder to block in the run game. Reading his keys will allow Sawyer to end up at the ball carrier more allowing for more impact plays. What we learned Sawyer is a talented player with a few limitations that need to improve for him to have a huge impact for the Buckeyes. Physically, he must continuously work on his flexibility to attack the corner in his pass rush game. Mentally, becoming a student of the game will allow him to anticipate the schemes he will see each week.